The REAL Focus: Credit unions show their dedication for financial education

Jill Weber, Director of Member Solutions

There has been a lot of good news coming out about various REAL Solutions® being offered by Wisconsin credit unions.

For instance, we just recently received news that Wisconsin credit unions sponsored a significant number of teachers during the National Institute of Financial & Economic Literacy held annually in Madison. Check out the numbers:

June session. 53% of teachers were sponsored by credit unions.

July session. 33% of teachers were sponsored by credit unions.

August session. 42% of teachers were sponsored by credit unions.

That’s great news! We hope that you’ve already budgeted for the 2011 sponsorship so we can continue to keep those sponsorship numbers strong!

There was also a comparison of credit union student run branches vs. bank student run branches in Wisconsin and credit unions vastly outnumbered the banks. Only three banks reported having a student branch vs. credit unions’ 109 student run branches. That comparison really shows credit unions’ dedication to providing financial education to youth.

Another of credit unions’ financial education initiatives for youth, the brass|STUDENT Program, recently released its winter issue of brass|MAGAZINE, which features motorcross champion Ashley Fiolek on its cover.

Updates have also been made to the brass|TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER to improve navigation, as well as introduce a new educator blog that will showcase program news and updates, trends in education and teacher profiles. This is only the first phase of updates that should prove helpful to teachers and credit unions that use the teacher center as a resource.

We love hearing and reporting on these successes, so keep up the good work!

For more information on any of the mentioned program, please contact me at (800) 242-0833, Ext. 6042.