COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Scott Credit Union is getting area kids excited about savings with its new Big Barkers Kidz Club.

The club, which is free to kids through age 12 who open an account with Scott CU, focuses on making financial literacy and savings fun. To encourage savings, each Big Barkers member who makes four deposits into their higher rate savings account gets to choose a prize. In addition, members gain access to an interactive club Web site that includes several pages of games and fun links, tips about saving, information about the value of credit unions and club events, and even a tool that they can use to email Big Barkers mascot Scotty the Dog. Kids will also receive their quarterly issue of the Money Clips newsletter.

"It is exciting for the kids to receive their own mail. The newsletter is full of interesting and fun articles for the kids or their parents to read," said Scott CU Community Relations Specialist Ashleigh Deatherage. "Our goal with the club is really to create a more fun experience for our young members. We want them to have a positive experience at a young age as they learn about saving money. We truly believe that their experience at this age will stick with them when it comes to handling their finances."