VACAVILLE, CA - In honor of Military Saves Week, scheduled for Feb. 25 through March 3, Travis Credit Union partnered with Travis Air Force Base to offer free financial education workshops at the Airman and Family Readiness Center here for service members, civilian employees and their family members.
As part of this year’s theme to “Build Wealth, Not Debt,” TCU will offer nine classes focusing on financial goals and improving financial readiness, such as saving for an emergency, paying off high-cost debts and purchasing a home.
“Our men and women, who serve at Travis Air Force Base and their families, are prepared for whatever, whenever and wherever duty calls. But can they say the same about their personal finances?” stated Patsy Van Ouwerkerk, president and CEO of Travis Credit Union.
In addition to teaching Travis members about personal finances, TCU offered a free financial education story time at the Travis Credit Union branch on Travis AFB for children from the TAFB Child Development Center.
During story time, children built awareness about spending and savings habits and interacted with credit union tellers to learn about transactions. Through this session, TCU representatives eased the challenge parents are faced with teaching children the value of the dollar.
According to TCU representatives, communicating about purchases, using allowances to help children make decisions about spending and saving, and involving children with creating a budget are steps parents can take towards teaching their children about financial success.
“Financial education for the youth is an important foundation to build upon,” said Tom Bradley, A&FRC director. “Getting people to start talking about finances is the first step towards success.”
According to Bradley, 1,800 people from Travis made the pledge in 2012. This year, the goal was to have 2,000 people pledge. People who took the pledge were eligible for a free credit score and e-newsletters to stay focused on accomplishing financial goals.
Financial education seminars provided by Travis Credit Union included: Organize your Financial Records, Credit Ability, Investing Fundamentals, 10 Steps to Financial Success, Home Buying/Foreclosure Avoidance, Psychology of Spending, Fundamentals of IRAs and Take the Wheel: Best Car Deal.
The week ended with a raffle for an Apple iPod and two $25 gift cards that were provided by the credit union.
Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution serving those who live or work in Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Colusa, and Merced Counties.
Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 11th largest credit union in California, with more than 178,000 members and over $2.2 billion in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions in Solano, Contra Costa, Yolo, Napa, and Merced Counties, Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful commitment to its members; its solid, secure history; and its long-standing track record of dedicated service.