For Teens At SECU, ZARD Debuts

Calling it the "next step" in its life stages products, State Employees' Credit Union launched a new teen program called "ZARD." It is aimed at members ages 13-19 and seeks to help parents educate teens on money management issues, providing a good basis for a bright financial future. The ZARD program offers Z-Shares, Z- Checking, ZARD Cards (i.e., VISA Check Card or ATM/Interlink Access Card), Money Matterz (quarterly newsletter), and a website, www.teenzard.org. In the first two weeks, SECU has opened 1,126 Z-Share accounts and 387 Z- Checking accounts. In conjunction with the program launch, SECU is running a ZARD Sweepstakes. Any eligible teen who opens a Z-Share account between April 15-July 31, 2002 will be automatically entered to win one of three Samsung 128MB Mini Digital Audio Players (MP3 Players). In addition, the parents of Zard Sweepstakes participants are automatically entered to win one of three Friday-Saturday weekend trips, including a $100 Marriott gift certificate, to The Renaissance Charleston Hotel Historic District in Charleston, SC. The program follows an offering called "FAT CAT" that was launched in November of 2000. That program, aimed at members up to age 12, has attracted 40,000 accounts in 17 month

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