'Centsables' Teach Kids About Money
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-CommonWealth One FCU has launched The Centsables, a program to teach financial education to children.
An interactive website, comic book series and free teacher lesson plans to help teach kids math skills, as well as important lessons on the concepts of money, value, basic economics and investing are all included in the program, which is intended for children ages 6-11.
The Censtables are six super hero friends whose every day adventures teach concepts about money and positive behavior. If kids in "Centsinnati" are under threat from villains like Creditor and Liquidator, the Centsables can help save the day.
CU Teams With Lutheran Social Services
BURNSVILLE, Minn.-U.S. FCU now offers members financial education and counseling through a partnership with Lutheran Social Services. Counseling is available on topics such as budgeting, credit report reviews, checking account management and more.
Lutheran Social Services is one of Minnesota's largest financial-counseling providers and has been in business since 1987. Since the partnership with LSS began in 2007, U.S. FCU members are estimated to have paid off more than $1 million in debt.
Members can receive up to six sessions per year at no charge. Sessions can be done over the phone, online or in person by appointment only.
GTE Financial Promotes New Membership Drive
TAMPA, Fla.-GTE Financial CU ran a campaign to attract new members called "Join 200,000 of your closest friends," a nod to the credit union's recent milestone of achieving 200,000 members.
GTE donated $1 to a local charity for every new member who joined between April 5 and May 31. It will ask members to help decide which local organization receives the total donation by casting their votes for Habitat for Humanity, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful or Florida Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.
FedChoice Introduces 'Swipe & $ign' Program
LANHAM, Md.-FedChoice FCU now offers members cash back of up to $200 per year on signature transactions. Known as "Swipe & $ign," the program can be paired with the CU's free checking offering, and has no monthly fees or balance requirements.
Westerly Community CU Gets FHLB Grant
WESTERLY, R.I.-Westerly Community CU now participates in the FHLB's "Equity Builder" program and is set to receive up to $150,000 in grant money.
The credit union said it will use the grant to award up to $15,000 per eligible family to be used on a first-come, first-served basis as down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers in low- to moderate-income households. The CU is also offering $575 off closing costs and low fixed rates for first-time buyers.
Households that earn 80% of the median income in the region are eligible for the program.
First Ohio Launches Balance Transfer Promotion
NORTH CANTON, Ohio-First Ohio Community Credit Union is offering a 3.99% balance transfer promotional rate on credit cards between June 4 and Sept. 3. Members can use the savings to consolidate debt on high-rate cards, lower payments and more. The 3.99% rate will stay in effect until June 4, 2014.
