When seven-year-old Michael Armstrong became the 25,000th member of Chetco FCU, the credit union rewarded Michael and his first grade class at the Blanco School with a pizza party, prizes, and a visit by Chetco FCU's Dollar Dog mascot.
Armstrong said he decided to join the credit union because he wanted to be part of the fun new kids' club activities. Chetco gave him a gift certificate so he can go fishing with his dad and also made a deposit to his Dollar Dog savings account. Last year Chetco opened its second youth-operated branch at the Del Norte County High School, joining its other in-school branch at Brooking-Harbor High School, which opened in 2002.
The $270-million credit union recently won the Community Chartered Credit Union of the Year award.
