Navigate Financial Waters

Focus on Thrift — Collaboration in the Classroom involves credit unions pooling their resources to hire a talented person to visit schools on their behalf. The person arranges and conducts large, auditorium style presentations on finances and informs students how they can receive $25 when they open a savings account at a participating credit union. In order to receive the money, the student must log on to the program Web site and complete a self-guided course on finance. Please check back later for more details on this idea as they develop.

This project helps identify how to best pursue the young market that credit unions are missing today. By comparing the target audience’s choice of channel and responsiveness to a call-to-action, we hope to determine how to attract and deepen their relationships with credit unions. The innovation is how best to market to the younger generation and what medium will leverage the deepest long term relationship.

Smart Score helps members understand the relevance and importance of their Credit Score. With Smart Score, members not only receive their current and (where possible) historical Credit Score, they also receive the tools and information necessary to help them understand how to protect and improve scores for future needs.

Virtual Finance is an environment or “island” within the teen grid in Second Life. It can offer financial education courses in a virtual classroom situated within an interactive environment that includes games, social interface, and the opportunity for prospective members to earn virtual money redeemable for real credit union products and services.

Women: A Strategy for Success is a package of financial services to reduce the headaches of bill paying and budgeting, and create a greater sense of financial independence. The idea aims to help women credit union members to simplify their financial lives and to help credit unions serve members and grow membership.