from staff
Money management, saving and spending wisely are a few of the lessons some First Coast students are learning early through a special program launched by Community First Credit Union of Florida. Financial education and building healthy money habits are the anchors of the Community First “Deposit Days” program which uses age-appropriate curriculum and activities to teach students how to spend, save, give and track their money for needs and wants.
A number of local schools have already partnered with Community First Credit Union branches to begin “Deposit Days.” Following an initial phase of financial education led by Community First staff and the schools’ teachers, parents and students can open a Youth Advantage savings account. The partnering branch then visits the school on a regular basis to collect deposits, in any amount, from students. They are also on-hand to answer questions and provide additional information about the Youth Advantage products. Community First offers a variety of youth-oriented accounts that are designed to grow with students as they age. They feature products and services for young people under 23 years old, including flexible CD options, high-yield savings accounts, and more.
Community First also recently incorporated a Deposit Day Incentive that gives partnering schools a donation toward supplies for encouraging students to participate. Additionally, Community First staff are encouraged to volunteer at partnering schools. The credit union allows employees two volunteer hours per week to participate in community service.
The Deposit Day program began last October on Jacksonville’s Southside through a partnership between J. Allen Axson Montessori School and the credit union’s Hodges branch. New programs are scheduled to launch in Fernandina Beach at Emma Love Hardy Saturday and in Jacksonville Beach at Seabreeze Elementary April 9. Community First is also in the process of launching the program in high schools. For more information about the Deposit Days program or Community First Youth Advantage products, contact, Vanessa Garcia Rodriguez at 371-8052.