Credit Unions live by the philosophy of “people helping people”. At Mutual CU, we take that purpose seriously. From offering a wide variety of savings, checking, and investment accounts to low cost and accessible loans, our goal is to help our members and the communities we serve live better financial lives. The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) says it best, “Credit unions assist members to become better-educated consumers of financial services.”
Financial education isn’t just for kids (although we do that, too). We go through many different life stages and with each stage, there are financial challenges that come with it. Mutual CU is the partner you can count on to help guide you through all the phases and financial needs in your life
Starting on the Right Foot
We hope to start financial education at a young age, to get children and young adults prepared to create a healthy habit of saving, evaluating needs versus wants, and making wise money choices.
Mutual offers a program for children from second through fifth grades that focuses on just that. Using the book, Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, by Judith Viorst, we walk through the ways Alexander does or doesn’t make wise money choices and how we can make better decisions with our money. The kids also receive a Mutual CU piggy bank to start their own savings! The program is available to schools and other youth and community groups in the areas we serve.
Growing Your Financial Independence
Young adults are in particular need of financial education. “A national study shows just ten hours of personal finance education can positively affect students’ spending and savings habits for a lifetime” (CUNA).
We encourage youth to participate in Reality Fairs and are able to work with schools and other organizations to put together Reality Fair events to promote education of how money works “in the real world.” According to the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF), “A reality fair is an interactive financial literacy tool […] that creates a unique opportunity for students to experience some of the financial challenges they will face when they start life on their own.”
Students are able to choose a career path, and work to create a budget and live on the salary based on that career and every day expenses such as housing, utilities, transportation, and food. It is a great way to learn how to balance needs and wants with the reality of earning a paycheck, paying taxes, and living independently.
One-on-One Counseling for Our Members
No matter your age, you can always benefit from financial guidance from experts. We offer one-on-one counseling at no cost to our members, as well as group meetings that cover many topics, including:
- Increasing your credit score
- Creating a budget
- Finding ways to cut expenses
- Creating a plan to reduce debt
- And more!
With Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors at each and every branch, we are able to give you the personal attention you need as you navigate your financial life. We’re here for one purpose, and that is to make our members’ financial lives easier and better. How can we help you today?
Credit Union National Association (CUNA). The Credit Union Difference.
