Student Services

4:ME

What is it? Youth 4 Money Education 
Checking & Savings Account

What’s it for? To teach your kids to manage money, while you look over their shoulder and cheer them on.

How’s it work?  Bring your 17-and-under child in to set up a 4:ME account. We’ll fix them up with four things:

• savings account, *
• checking account with checks,
• a debit card, and
• online account access.

WHAT? What if they get out of control with that debit card??  That’s the great part!  You, the parent, co-sign on their account. You control how much is allowed on the card, and you help them learn how to manage their accounts.

But, I could use some help, myself…Even better. We’ll provide a couple of entertaining and informative classes geared to them. They MUST take the classes to advance to new levels of account responsibility. And you attend with them. So you just might learn a few things, too.

Here’s the lowdown:

1. Bring in your offspring, and set up your 4:ME account. (You decide at what age they’re ready. They must be at least six and no older than 17)

2. They bring their adult and attend a class on understanding checking and savings. They’ll receive their checks and debit card there.

3. For the next few months, you monitor their accounts online if you wish, and help them balance their checkbook and keep track of expenditures.

4. When you decide they’re ready to access their own online account, bring them to the next class: Online financial management and security.  Once they’ve completed that class, they can monitor their account online. And you can help them.

5. Classes will be held quarterly, and children are required to attend both classes to keep their account status current. The credit union will periodically offer additional classes to 4:ME account holders.

6. You’ll end up with a child who becomes a financially responsible adult, so you won’t have to bail them out of money troubles over and over.

*4:ME savings can be created without attendance at classes. Some classes will be offered at local schools who participate in the education program.