MINNEAPOLIS — Twin City Co-ops Federal Credit Union is helpingkids think savings with its recent giveaway at a Minnesota Twinshome game.

The credit union treated the first 5,000 kids up to age 14 tospecial Minnesota Twins Mini-Helmet banks.

“This is the most important piece of 'plastic' TCU can get intokids' hands,” said TCU Vice President of Marketing Mike Schrader.“The helmet banks are a great way to help us emphasize to kids theimportance of saving and being responsible with their money.”

The banks are a custom design with TCU's logo on the back of themini-batting helmet and were very well received by both the kidsand parents alike.

A coupon was also distributed to encourage children to open ayouth savings account in which TCU will deposit $5 for each newaccount.

Community First CU of Florida Lends HelpingHand

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Over the past few months more than200 educators from Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam andSt. Johns counties have reached out to Community First Credit Unionof Florida for summer financial assistance.

This financial need is due to the fact that thebeginning of the 2007 school year was extended two weeks, resultingin teachers' first new school-year paycheck arriving Aug. 31,instead of Aug.15.

A Florida state law forbids any school districts tostart fall classes sooner than two weeks before Labor Day. The lawintends to boost tourism by reserving most of August as a familyvacation period.

Community First is offering educators impacted by thisnew start date a personal signature loan at a reduced rate of 8.25%APR for 12 months to help them stretch their income during theAugust pay delay.

So far the special Community First loans have totaledwell over $279,500.

Pagoda FCU Offers Buck$ for Good Grades

READING, Pa. — Pagoda Federal Credit Union is showingits young members that it pays to do well in school with its Buck$for A's promotion.

Since 1996, school-aged members at Pagoda Federal CreditUnion have been rewarded for getting good grades.

Young members who have “A's” on their final report card,can earn money at the credit union. For every final grade that isan A, the credit union gives the young member $2, up to a maximumof $22, provided an adult matches the amount.

According to the credit union, this much-anticipatedyearly program that runs through July 31st, provides Pagoda's youngmembers a way to earn rewards for their scholasticachievements.

Travis CU Teams Up for Financial Literacy

VACAVILLE, Calif. — Travis Credit Union has been workingwith Solano and Napa County high school students to help thembecome more financially savvy.

As part of the first annual Travis $mart Money Week,Will C. Wood High School students received awards for theiraccomplishments during a special assembly.

During the assembly, teams of students participated in agame of “Financial Jeopardy” to show off their newly acquiredfinancial skills. The assembly ended with the awarding ofcertificates to more than 230 students who completed the NationalEndowment for Financial Education Financial Planning Program.Students also received a card for six, free, musicdownloads.

The program, which met California Education Standards,was integrated into Economics, Career Quest, and Business Mathclasses. The six units covered financial planning, choosing acareer, developing a budget based on personal needs and wants,savings, managing a retirement fund, the wise use of credit and theneed to protect assets with insurance.

“The goal of the program is to help high school studentsbecome financially responsible adults because learning aboutmanaging money is as important as earning it,” said Travis CUExecutive Vice President Lila Dressen.

Travis CU arranged the courses after commissioning astudy on the financial literacy needs of Solano County, which founda need for financial literacy education for youth.

“Travis Credit Union is committed to educating ourmembers and potential members living in our 12-county serviceregion about their finances to ensure they are aware of theiroptions to make their financial lives happier,” said Travis CUPresident/CEO Patsy Van Ouwerkerk.

MDDCCUA Gears Up for Fall Ad Campaign

COLUMBIA, Md. — The initial phase of the MDDCCUACooperative Advertising Campaign What's In It For Me?, slated forlaunch this fall, will be primarily aimed at reaching Gen Yconsumers and women.

“The data we have collected from our own studies andother states strongly suggest that consumers generally areunconcerned with credit union membership, not-for-profit status, orphilosophy,” said Mike Dilworth, chief of marketing for FreedomFederal Credit Union and chair of the Co-Op Committee. “Creditunions must compete in a wider financial market to promote theadvantages of CU membership.”

The campaign features a series of upbeat radiocommercials that promote the value of CU membership–without theconstant nickel and diming of banks. The commercials driveconsumers to a companion Web site that allows consumers to find outmore about the credit union difference and to locate a CU in theirown area. Consumer response to the campaign will be tracked as itprogresses.

The CAC Committee has made considerable effort toresearch other campaigns during the last several months, ensuringthat contributions collected are used to greater effect. Thelong-range campaign–up to three years–will allow for theestablishment of a credit union brand during several campaignperiods.

“Credit union budgets should reflect the need to promotethe industry as a whole,” said Dilworth.

South Carolina Federal Name Featured InOrangeburg-Technical College

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The South Carolina FederalCredit Union name will be a permanent part of anOrangeburg-Technical College corridor.

South Carolina Federal donated $20,000 toOrangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, South Carolinato help underwrite costs for development of its new Math andScience Building.

In appreciation, OCTC honored the credit union withlifetime naming rights to a hallway in the Math and ScienceBuilding that leads to its auditorium.