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John McGrail, Carolinas Credit Union Foundation President/CEO
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Credit unions are known for their commitment to Financial Education. Year after year the League Awards Committee recognizes the best programs that are submitted for judging for the Desjardins award. Some of the approaches are broad and some smaller but all try to accomplish the same goal. As Credit Unions we want our members to be better consumers of financial products and services.
One credit union produces an entire video series that walks the main character through different financial situations and gives their members graduation certificates after they finish the series. Another credit union has a branch in a local elementary school and is building and training the next professional generation of credit union workers. Still others send their staffs into local schools and teach a program of materials designed to help students become better financial citizens.
These approaches may seem too broad for your credit union to achieve. You might not have the resources to devote as much energy to this priority as you might want to—but you do want to encourage Financial Education. Isn’t there an easier way? Well, yes, there is, and the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation is glad that you’re asking!
North Carolina credit unions are going to join four other states to pilot a program that attacks Financial Education in a simpler way—yet one that can be extremely effective. All we need to do is ask our staff and members how they will make our collective goal happen. During the month of April, Financial Literacy Month, credit union staff and members will be encouraged to “pledge your support for financial education.” The pledge will be answering a simple question such as “I pledge to support financial education by _____” with options such as “making a donation to support financial education initiatives, take a financial education class in the next month, educate myself about the importance of budgeting, spread the word about the importance of financial education, make an extra car or mortgage payment this month, spend less on eating out, or etc. ”
If this approach piques your interest then please learn more about the proposed campaign (“Credit Unions Support Financial Education: Leading the Way to Financial Freedom”), please join staff from NCUF [National Credit Union Foundation] & TCUF [Texas Credit Union Foundation] for a short webinar on Wednesday, 2/22.
Webinar Details
When:
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 – 2:00 pm (ET)
Web Login:
*Please enter as a guest:
http://cuna.adobeconnect.com/league_financialeducation/
Audio:
Conference Number(s): 1-888-864-0816
Participant Code: 774337
As a pilot program we need your credit union to participate so we can use your feedback to make this a successful national program. If you have questions before Wednesday please contact John P. McGrail with the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation at 704-305-7587 or email at john@carolinasfoundation.org.