For many credit unions, the start of the 2013-2014 schoolyear signals a renewed interest in financial literacy programs.

Experts say the need for financial education has never beengreater. A recent study funded by the National Endowment forFinancial Education and other research has shown that many teachersand parents are not equipped to teach financial education tochildren.

“Providing financial education for young people is one of themost important things that credit unions can do to make a positiveimpact on the community and a long-lasting difference in theworld,” said NAFCU President/CEO Dan Berger.

Berger said credit unions that organize financial literacyprograms often experience a measurable return on investment in theform of increased Gen Y membership, college loans and otherbenefits.

“Financial literacy programs build rapport with the community,promote credit unions in a positive light, and encourage youngpeople – and their family members – to become credit unionmembers,” Berger added.

Here are five financial literacy programs making their mark inschool.

Next Page: New Year for NEFE

NEFE High School Financial PlanningProgram

For more than 25 years, the Denver-based National Endowment forFinancial Education, in partnership with CUNA and other non-profitorganizations, has helped to educate about a half million studentsannually in every state in the U.S. and on numerous U.S. militarybases around the world.

Through its award-winning High School Financial PlanningProgram, NEFE provides financial education curriculum, includingclassroom materials and lesson plans, which credit unions canutilize to teach workshops and provide to local educators at nocost.

Over the years, organizations such as the Texas Credit Union Foundation have tailored HSFPP curriculum to serve theircommunities.

This fall, HSFPP training sessions are scheduled at creditunions across the country.

“Teachers sigh in relief whenthey discover that local credit union partners are available andenthusiastic about co-teaching with the NEFE materials or sharingexpertise about personal finance topics,” said Susan Sharkey,director of NEFE's high school financial program.

(At left, school teachers and credit union educatorsat a recent NEFE training session at Teachers FCU in Hauppauge,N.Y.)

Although most U.S. school districts have adopted graduationguidelines that require students to complete personal financialeducation standards, more than 60% of educators said they do notfeel qualified to teach the required curriculum, according to aUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison study funded by the NEFE.

For the past four years, the New York Credit Union Foundation inAlbany has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension to hosttraining sessions.

“Our foundation's mission is 'fostering the financialindependence of New Yorkers through credit unions,' and buildingyouth financial literacy is a critical part of that,” said AllisonBarna, director of NYCUF/community development.

Earlier this summer, training sessions were held at the $690million, 75,000-member Summit FCU in Rochester, N.Y., and the $4.7billion, 230,000-member Teachers FCU in Hauppauge, N.Y.

“Attending this seminar was hugely helpful because the financialliteracy curriculum provided through NEFE is excellent,” saidJackie Wiegand, marketing administrator at the $35 million,5,000-member Compass FCU in Oswego, N.Y. “It follows stateand national education standards, but, more importantly, it ispresented in a fun, logical and enjoyable way.”

To learn more about HSFPP or register for upcoming trainingsessions, click here.

Next Page: Some Michigan TLC

TLC CU Youth FinancialLiteracy Program

As part of its Youth Financial Literacy program, the $343millionTLCCommunityCredit Union in Adrian, Mich., operates 16 student-run branchesin local elementary schools.

For this school year, TLC will train about 400 students to serveas tellers, branch managers and other positions, said Barb Rupley,the credit union's youth financial literacy manager.

(At right, students making deposits at one of TLCCommunity CU's 16 student-run branches in local elementaryschools.)

This fall, TLC plans to hold an online scavenger hunt thatencourages students to learn about online banking by logging on totheir home banking screen at least twice monthly to check theirsavings account balance. Every other week, a banner on the homescreen will have a different question for students to answer.Participants have a chance to win a tablet, Rupley said.

During the past decade, a growing number of credit unions havelaunched in-school branches. At TLC, the student-run branchesaccept and process deposits weekly. Participating students areeligible for an age-appropriate savings account at no cost, whichthey can open with just 25 cents.

“Student members are encouraged to set savings goals, make wisespending choices and create a plan for their future,” Rupley said.“Students who participate find it is a great way to learn aboutfinancial responsibility and have fun at the same time.”

To celebrate the success of the program, which began 13 yearsago, TLC hosted a party this summer at a local recreation centerfor its student employees.

“We've really grown the program in the past two years and we'vestarted tracking family member response,” said Rupley, who recentlybecame a certified financial education instructor through theNationalFinancialEducatorsCouncil.

“We got advice from CP Federal Credit Union (in Jackson, Mich.) to launch it and since then it has evolved because we'veadded our own unique approach,” said Suzanne Miller, TLC'smarketing manager. “We know that we have attracted new members andincreased student accounts, student loans and other services bysponsoring this program.”

Next Page: BizKid$ in the Bayou

Showtime for LouisanaBizKid$

Popcorn, candy and money management tips are an unusual mix in amovie theatre, but they seem to be a recipe for financial literacysuccess for Carter Federal Credit Union in Springhill, La.

Using a $25,000 grant from the National Credit Union Foundation in Madison,Wis., the $220 million credit union partnered with a local studioto film several financial literacy videos that have been shown in alocal theatre before feature movies.

The light-hearted videos serve as trailers for BizKid$,an Emmy-winning TV series produced by the NCUF, and NCUF'sSpendster.

Filmed in the communities CFCU serves, the videos are nowavailable on YouTube:

• “A New Bike” – shown before G-ratedmovies
• “Looking Back, Looking Forward” – shown before PG-ratedmovies
• “Your Financial Future Preview” – shown beforemovies aimed at adults

Launched nationally in 2008, Biz Kid$ has reached more than 35million viewers, the NCUF said. Earlier this year, the series won aDaytime Emmy Award and the Children's Choice Gold Award.

NCUF provides free Biz Kid$ classroom curriculum, which has beenapproved by State Boards of Education in numerous states, includingTexas, California and Florida.

“Carter Federal Credit Union's multi-faceted approach tofinancial literacy is great,” said NCUF National Program DirectorLois Kitsch. “Plus, trailers are an integral part of the theaterexperience, which makes this such a clever way to reach moviegoerswith a message that will resonate.”

More than 3,000 children and 3,000 adults have seen the videosat the theater's Kids Camp Movie Program, Senior Citizen Night andother events.

CFCU also trained 10 member volunteers, dubbed the “CarterFederal Education Team,” to help with educational events.

“As a result of that part of the program, more than 500 peoplein the community have received financial education training,” saidJames Gibson, president/CEO at CFCU. “This program is one the waysCarter Federal Credit Union is responding to the increasing needfor financial literacy within our membership and in the communitieswe serve.”

For more information about Biz Kid$, clickhere.

Next Page: California ExtraCredit

PremierOne Virtual Credit Zone

In recognition of its Credit Zone program that began last year,the $334 million, 25,000-member PremierOne Credit Union in SanJose, Calif., recently received a $1,000 grant from NerdWallet, apersonal finance analysis site, as a winner of its 2013 Gen YCredit Union Contest.

“We are hopeful our Credit Zone initiative will reach youngadults in an innovative and impactful way,” said Andrea Brewer,president/CEO of PremierOne. “Being recognized by NerdWallet aspart of their Gen Y contest will go a long way in helping ourinitiative.”

As part of the program, PremierOne recently created avirtualresource/hub with videos,credit tips, a blog, links to resources, social media connectionsand an interactive credit quiz. The hub received about 110 uniquevisits in August, the credit union said.

To promote the Credit Zone, PremierOne hosts seminars inclassrooms, sends postcards on a regular basis to members age18-22, and offered a “College Package,” featuring products andservices designed for young adults.

Just in time for the new school year, the program added a fewnew perks.

“We added the college package to the hub, and when utilized,members now receive our USB Slapband with the Credit Zonepresentation and videos already loaded,” said Sara Karam Holtz,assistant vice president of marketing for the 25,000-member creditunion. “As part of the package, we include our mobile app, whichdirects interested members back to the Credit Zone.”

PremierOne also is developing a point system for differentmethods of interaction (such as taking weekly quizzes or “checkingin” at the credit union) that could be swapped for Credit Zone“swag” such as sweatshirts and notebooks, Karam Holtz said, and thecredit union is creating a plan to penetrate further into localuniversities, along with measurement trackers to monitor what worksbest.

“Our goal is to add dedicated monthly emails, specific socialmedia initiatives and groups, and utilize our mobile app to expandthe brand of the Credit Zone to beyond Credit Union membership,”Karam Holtz explained. “The more we can develop ourselves into aninteractive resource for the very important topic of credit, themore Gen Y members will look to us as their resource for financialproducts and services even as they progress with their lives.”

Above, as part of its Credit Zoneprogram, PremierOne CU presents financial literacy programs atlocal schools.

Next Page: It's Elementary, M3

Elements of Money and the M3 MoneyClub

For the new school year, the $176 million Holy Rosary Credit Union in Rochester, N.H., is introducing a new M3 Money Clubfor elementary school students and an Elements of Money program forteens.

To launch the program, the credit union is partnering withSubcat Media (formerly SubcatMarketing),a Fullerton, Calif.-based marketing agency.

“We are incredibly excited about these new youth programs andall they offer our membership,” said Brian Hughes, president/CEO ofthe 17,000-member HRCU. “It is our mission as an organization tosupport our local community and it starts with the youth.”

The M3 Money Club offers comics, quizzes, podcasts and engagingfinancial content on its co-branded website, which featuressuperheroes, Cash and Violet, who visited schools and summer campsduring this summer.

“The popularity of superheroes never goes away and we could tellthat the M3 Club characters are a hit, based on the reactions ofchildren and parents,” said Leah Esslinger-Sprowl, HRCU's youtheducator. “If we can reach children and teach them savings habitsat a young age it, then those good habits will hopefully carry overinto adulthood.”

To promote the M3 Club, HRCU is also launching Super Saver Days,which allows students to make deposits at school each week when acredit union representative visits.

HRCU said it is also adding new offerings for teen members withSubcat's Elements of Money program, which won a 2012 Gold Awardfrom the Marketing Association of Credit Unions and features aco-branded website, mobile app, social networks, podcasts,interactive games and videos.

Below, costumed characters Cash and Violet visit NewHampshire schools as part of Holy Rosary Credit Union's new M3Money Club.