YAKIMA, Wash.–When it comes to promoting youth savings, the $205 million Yakima Valley CU is certain to be this month's winner opening a whopping 925 start-up accounts with a $25 free deposit during a 19-day period.

“We realize these accounts are not cost-effective now but in the long run we also know that these are future members who we hope will one day open checking accounts and take out car loans,” explained Debra Hickman, vice president of marketing.

Like others at the Washington Credit Union League which offered the youth accounts program as part of Financial Literacy Month and Youth Financial Week, Hickman said she was astonished at the numbers, the result apparently of “word of mouth advertising, some branch incentives and TV and newspaper buys.”

Under the league program, 22 CUs took part in the April 11-30 promotion to give “kids an opportunity to get free cash and begin their financial education” by joining a CU.

“We had one day where we opened 250,” said Hickman whose CU normally opens 75 youth accounts a month.

The league program stipulated only eligible youths 17 and under and accompanied by a parent or guardian could get the $25 but also required the funds be held for a year.