SACRAMENTO, Calif.—SAFE Credit Union is combining Halloween celebrations with an opportunity to introduce children to banking and encourage healthy financial habits through its October Kids Days promotion, which includes a $25 matching deposit for eligible new accounts, prizes, trick-or-treating and appearances by local sports mascots.
According to the credit union, children ages 17 and younger are invited to visit any of SAFE’s 18 Sacramento-area branches through Oct. 31 to participate in the activities.
Children older than 6 who open an account during the promotion with an initial deposit of at least $25 will receive a $25 matching deposit from SAFE. Children who open accounts online are also eligible for the match and can visit a branch to collect prizes.
SAFE said children as young as 6 can open their own checking accounts and receive debit cards in person at a branch.
Halloween Activities Planned
As part of the promotion, SAFE is encouraging children to wear Halloween costumes when visiting branches, which have been decorated for the holiday.
Activities and special appearances include:
- Trick-or-treating: Children younger than 17 can visit participating branches in costume to collect candy on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31.
- Stomper appearance: The Athletics’ mascot, Stomper, will visit SAFE’s Antelope branch, 7887 Walerga Road, from 3-4 p.m. Oct. 30.
- Dinger appearance: Sacramento River Cats mascot Dinger will visit SAFE’s Laguna branch, 9162 Bruceville Road in Elk Grove, from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 30.
- Prizes and giveaways: Children can spin a prize wheel for items including mochi squishy toys, temporary tattoos, stickers, Halloween glow sticks and Halloween-themed rubber ducks.
SAFE emphasized that children do not have to open an account to participate in the prize giveaways.
Teaching Financial Responsibility
Beyond the Halloween activities, SAFE said the promotion is intended to encourage families to introduce children to money management at an early age.
The credit union’s children’s accounts are part of its Family Banking suite of products and services, which allows parents and children to manage their finances through a single financial institution.
According to SAFE, parents can use its mobile app and online banking services to:
- Monitor their children’s account transactions.
- Turn debit cards on and off.
- Access children’s accounts directly.
- Transfer money for allowances, chores and gifts.
- Maintain oversight of their children’s spending and banking activities.
The credit union said these features are designed to give children hands-on experience managing money while allowing parents to maintain control and provide guidance.
SAFE Community Development Specialist Alex Becerra, who hosts the credit union’s Perfect Cents podcast, also appeared on Sacramento television station KCRA 3 to discuss the Kids Days initiative and the importance of introducing children to financial services. The interview can be watched here.
