July 2008
Members Cooperative Credit Union Introduces Dollar Dog
Hello fellow Clubhouse fanatics! It's your friend Dollar Dog here, and I have some great news. Minnesota-based Members Cooperative Credit Union has signed on to offer the Dollar Dog Kids ClubSM to all members up to age 12 - hooray!
I was so excited to introduce the program to the kids last month. Not only did I get to meet new friends during the Dollar Dog Kids Club launches at each branch in June, but the kids' parents and grandparents were glad to see me too! They think it's a great idea that the credit union is interested in helping youth learn how to save and spend smart.
You can see some of the photos we took during the credit union's Dollar Dog Kids Club launch week here. The last two photos were taken at the Fourth of July parade in Cloquet, Minnesota. I sat on the Dollar Dog Kids Club-themed float with volunteers and friends as we toured the town celebrating our country's independence. We had a great time handing out free stuff like removable tattoos, candy, stickers and brochures about the program!
Spreading The Word
To create interest in the Dollar Dog Kids Club, Members Cooperative CU sent out welcome letters, membership cards and savings passbooks to every young member who had a Savings Account. (These accounts were changed to Dollar Dog accounts automatically during launch week.) The letter explains how the kids can earn fun prizes just by depositing money into their accounts.
The credit union also advertised the Dollar Dog Kids Club in the newspaper, on posters and in the monthly newsletter - I was glad to be a part of the buzz! In the first 12 days after offering the Dollar Dog Kids Club, the credit union had 23 new members sign up. So far, the credit union has 1,793 Dollar Dog accounts with account balances of over $580,400 total. That's nothing to shake a bone at!
Members Cooperative CU has a cool financial literacy program for the local schools, too. The program will start again once school is back in session this fall. As you might already know, I'm big on promoting financial literacy to all young members, especially in schools, since so many kids don't learn smart saving and spending at home.
More Fun To Come!
Members Cooperative CU has many more Dollar Dog events coming up in the next few weeks! I'll be helping out at community gatherings and sporting events, and lending a paw at other kid-oriented activities. It will be a busy few months, but it will be worth it!
