Screenshot from Ardent CU's Money Ninja website.
A Philadelphia credit union has enlisted the help of a local soccer star, Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Matt Freese, to teach young people how to live financially healthy lives.
The $799 million Ardent Credit Union, which is the professional soccer team's official credit union, announced last week that it had signed Freese as a spokesperson. The 23-year-old soccer player will be featured in advertisements for Ardent's Cash and Stash accounts, which encourage members ages 13 to 26 to practice smart money management with their checking and savings accounts, respectively. He will also help promote the credit union's commitment to helping members of all ages learn to manage their money through products that reward good money habits, according to Ardent.
Matt Freese Freese was born and raised in Pennsylvania's Delaware County, which borders Philadelphia, and is an Ardent member.
"We are thrilled to partner with Matt in our efforts to promote the importance of youth financial literacy. Growing up in the greater Philadelphia area, Matt excelled on and off the field, which makes him an excellent role model for young people in our community," Rob Werner, president/CEO of Ardent, stated. "As the official credit union of the Philadelphia Union, we're excited to have Matt helping us reach other local teens and young adults about developing these essential skills."
Freese stated, "Ardent Credit Union has a great reputation for serving the interests of its members and as a trusted community partner. I appreciate their dedication to financial education in my hometown – especially for people my age who don't always get it early enough. Kids who start while they're young will be in a much better position as they get older."
Ardent runs a financial education website geared toward both young members and their parents, ardentmoneyninja.com, which hosts videos on topics including borrowing, saving and spending. A "Starting" section includes educational videos on broader money-related topics, such as understanding inflation, comparing cards and spotting scams. An "Adulting" section teaches young adults the basics of acing a job interview, doing taxes and living on their own, among other topics.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
