SECU Youth Score Big, Depositing $5.2 Million during the “Play to Save” Challenge

RALEIGH, N.C., April 28, 2017 -- State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) recently challenged its youngest members to make the choice to save for their future through the Credit Union’s Youth Saving Challenge Contest, which tipped off April 17^th.  SECU youth not only embraced the friendly competition of the sports-themed “Play to Save” event, they broke last year’s deposit record by nearly $2 million, scoring big for their future.  Nearly 25,500 FAT CAT and Zard members deposited over $5.2 million into their savings accounts and opened more than 900 new youth accounts during the week-long event that concluded April 21^st!

“Play to Save” display at SECU’s Asheville-Parkway South branch.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8707bfb5-ec35-4e8e-a94f-4743b9f83d3b

SECU’s Youth Saving Challenge is held annually in conjunction with North Carolina’s Financial Literacy Month, which provides an excellent opportunity for SECU staff to teach youth good money management skills.  Participating savers who made a deposit to their share account were automatically entered in a random drawing for one FAT CAT and one Zard member to win an Apple iPad mini 2 and a $25 iTunes gift card.  Each SECU branch also hosted an additional giveaway, with 257 lucky youth members winning a Wilson-NCAA Street Shot Basketball.

Credit Union staff hold youth appreciation events and give financial literacy presentations at local schools and branches during Financial Literacy Month and throughout the year.  SECU’s FAT CAT program for children 12 and under, the Biz Kid$ television series, the National Endowment for Financial Education^® (NEFE) High School Financial Planning Program^® curriculum, and the Reality of Money financial simulation for middle and high school students are tools used by SECU to provide financial literacy training to youth.

“Kids and parents were thrilled about the sports-themed Challenge this year – especially following the excitement of the March Madness games,” said Amy Dills, Vice President of the Asheville-Parkway South branch.  “The Youth Saving Challenge is a fun approach to help kids develop healthy financial habits and save for their future.  Our employees had a great time promoting the event and holding our own basketball drawing.”

Winners of the Apple iPad mini 2 and a $25 iTunes gift card will be published on SECU youth websites, www.cufatcats.org and www.teenzard.org, as well as in the FAT CAT Paw Prints and Zard Money Matterz newsletters upon official member confirmation.

About SECU
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 79 years.  The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities.  SECU serves 2.2 million members through 257 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org.

Contact:  Leigh Brady, EVP – Organizational Development Office: 919-807-8347 | [email protected]