Youth and Teen Accounts

Transcription

1 Fitzsimons Credit Union (Fitzsimons) strives to know all of our partners as individuals including our youngest members. Fitzsimons recognizes the need to provide complete financial education to our members at an early age so that they will learn sound financial principles and money management skills that will help them be successful well into adulthood. What are the account requirements? A youth or teen account is a savings account for members between the ages of 0 and 17. There must be a joint owner over the age of 18 on the account but does not need to be a parent. A social security card must be present when opening a new youth/teen account (if child is not old enough to have a valid picture ID). Membership requires a minimum share deposit of $5 to open. There is a discounted $2.50 new account fee for youth/teen accounts, however, they are exempt from teller transaction fees and paper statement fees. When the savings account reaches $250, dividends will be paid at the current share savings rate and will be compounded daily and paid monthly. Upon turning age 13, a member s account will automatically switch to a teen account and be eligible to open a checking account with an adult co-signer. A VISA debit card is optional. Younger members (12 and under) are not eligible to access or open a checking account. There is no Overdraft Courtesy, which means parents can rest easy knowing that their kids cannot run up overdraft fees while they learn to use a visa debit card responsibly. When a teen account holder turns 18, his or her account will automatically switch from a teen account to an adult account, and the member will receive a letter stating the changes. What makes this account special? Youth and teen account holders have access to a number of exciting programs and promotions designed to help them through life s big milestones. Other promotions and services include: Birthday Cards with Gift Savings Challenges Computer Loan College Scholarship Online Learning & Fun Contests Fun events and giveaways on a quarterly basis Coverdell Education Savings Account Coin Counter at Southlands Branch - Free if deposited into youth/teen account Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency. Page 1

2 Youth and Teen Accounts Online Tools and Fun for Kids The internet is an essential tool of learning for our children in their regular school work and in their personal development. Fitzsimons provides a suitable and fun online learning environment where young members can learn the importance of saving, understand the basics of financial management, and gain the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully plan for their financial future. The online site, accessed through FitzsimonsCU.com, has three age-appropriate levels that appeal to different reading levels and changing interests. Young members can graduate (change levels), whenever they feel ready. Three levels of learning: 5 SPOT helps young children learn the importance of saving. AJ s teaches pre-teenagers about smart money management. C-Note continues to teach teenagers smart money management while preparing them to go off to college, buy a car, or start a new job. Elementary School Page 2 Middle School High School

3 Youth and Teen Accounts Elementary School The 5-SPOT level introduces elementary school-age children to important financial concepts by igniting their natural love of play with highly interactive games, stories, and more. On the 5-SPOT site, kids can: Play more than 50 games including word play, puzzles, and riddles that introduce them to money concepts. Read more than 40 stories about school, money, free time and using the internet. Use four different calculators to understand savings, costs of having a pet, and more! Practice saving, spending and sharing. Earn virtual money playing the activities. Spend their money decorating a personal virtual clubhouse. Graduate into AJ s (the next level up) anytime they feel ready. Middle School The AJ s level offers a fun and creative meeting place for middle school-age children to interact while learning about money and responsibility. On the AJ s site, kids can: Read more than 75 stories about people, money, and cool new electronic gear. Play more than 60 games, puzzles and trivia challenges. Vote on plot developments for the money management Kid Kred comic strip. Build their own super-hero identities. Use four different calculators to understand savings, pet costs and more! Practice saving, spending and sharing. Learn about credit unions! Graduate into C-NOTE (the next level up) anytime they feel ready. Page 3

4 High School The C-NOTE level offers teenagers interactive features that teach smart money management and provides an opportunity to demonstrate a greater level of financial responsibility to the teen who is saving for something special, preparing for college, or getting ready to join the working world. On the C-NOTE site, teens can: Enter photo contests for a chance to win and save money. Reach out to peers using a comment feature and blog posts (moderated by CUNA staff)* Watch more than 40 student-created videos that provide financial lessons. Read more than 50 stories about life, money, future and popular products. Play more than 50 games including puzzles, trivia, word play, speed challenges and more! Use six different calculators to understand college savings, credit card interest, budgeting and more! Learn about credit unions! *CUNA - Credit Union National Association Page 4

5 Computer Loan With the digital age upon us, owning or having easy access to a computer is becoming absolutely essential to a child s educational experience. The ability to use this tool and be familiar with everchanging technology is important to compete and be successful both in the classroom and later in the professional world. To help make computers affordable, Fitzsimons is offering a loan specifically to finance personal computers at a low, fixed interest rate. Maximum loan of $1,000; Monthly payments are only $75 per month; Maximum term of 15 months; Must have a parent or legal guardian apply; and Loan is subject to credit approval. Events Fitzsimons organizes events for our Savvy Savers Club members at least once per quarter, along with great prizes and drawings at all events! All Savvy Savers receive a postcard inviting them to join in on the fun. Some events include: Valentine s Day at Fitzsimons - Create a Valentine s Day card and other crafts. Summer Social - Bubbles, chalk, crafts, water balloons and much more! Back to School Backback Giveaway - enter to win a backpack filled with school supplies Fall Fest - Fun for the whole family! Hot dogs, apple cider, caramel apples and popcorn, pumpkin painting for the kids, and amazing prizes and giveaways! Santa visits Fitzsimons - No need to stand in long lines at the mall! We ll take your child s picture with Santa and print or you a copy. Page 5

6 Savings Challenges Each year, Fitzsimons Credit Union holds several savings challenges where youth are encouraged to make deposits into their account. One such challenge is the National Youth Savings Challenge, sponsored by Credit Union National Association (CUNA), which occurs during the month of April in conjunction with National Credit Union Youth Week. Youth are encouraged to make deposits into their account at least once during the month of April. Each youth who makes a deposit will receive a gift bag and an entry into the savings challenge sweepstakes sponsored by CUNA. Ten cash awards of $100 are available for participating credit unions nationwide. Fitzsimons also has several additional savings challenges during the year which are always announced online and in branches. Let s Celebrate - Birthday Card & Gift Check Savvy Savers start receiving checks at two years of age. Checks start at $5 for ages two through five, and go up $1 with every year through 12 years old. This gift check must be deposited into the youth account within 60 days of issuance and the child must be present to receive credit. This is a good opportunity for children to visit the credit union, learn the value of saving, and become a more active participant in their financial education. Page 6

7 Because hard work deserves rewards. The Fitzsimons Credit Union Post-Secondary Education Scholarship Fitzsimons is committed to helping the youth in our community pursue higher education by offering five scholarships annually. A non-renewable scholarship may be awarded to one graduating senior from each of the five Aurora public high schools: o Aurora Central High School o Hinkley High School o Vista PEAK Preparatory High School o Gateway High School o Rangeview High School o William Smith High School Applications are available online at FitzsimonsCU.com The scholarship will be in the amount of either $500 or $1,000. Funds are to be used only for tuition, room and board, or books. Applicant must be a member of Fitzsimons Credit Union. Applicant must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average. Applicant must be entering an accredited college, university, or other recognized institution of higher learning full-time in the following academic year. Fitzsimons employees, directors, committee members, other volunteers and their families are not eligible. Previous scholarship winners are not eligible. The scholarship will be awarded primarily on the basis of merit; not financial need. The applicant must have demonstrated leadership skills and a strong involvement in extracurricular activities and community service organizations. The applicant shall have demonstrated outstanding citizenship qualities that show loyalty, trustworthiness, integrity, and a genuine concern for the well being of others. Each high school will use its existing selection committee to determine the scholarship recipient; or a contest will be held in which a graduating senior will be required to submit either an essay in 750 words (or less) on a chosen topic such as how credit unions help youth accomplish their financial goals or a 60 second video advertisement for a credit union wanting to reach out to high school or college-aged members. Page 7