State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) is running its annual Youth Saving Challenge, and this year they’re sweetening the deal with over 500 iPads for young savers across North Carolina.
The challenge is refreshingly simple. Kids and teens who are SECU members just need to make a deposit into their savings account before September 4th, and they’re automatically entered to win. That’s it. No complicated rules, no fine print labyrinths—just save some money and maybe score a tablet in the process.
Teaching Financial Habits Before They Need Them
Back-to-school season usually means shopping for supplies and adjusting to new schedules, but SECU is nudging families to add one more item to the list: talking about money. The Youth Saving Challenge runs through early September, perfectly timed to help parents turn “getting ready for school” into a teachable moment about financial responsibility.
“Back-to-school season is a natural time for families to think about learning, setting goals, and preparing for the year ahead,” said SECU President and CEO Leigh Brady. “Teaching young people the value of saving is one of the most important lessons for the future. We hope this year’s Youth Saving Challenge inspires families to start conversations about financial responsibility while giving kids and teens an exciting incentive to jumpstart their savings journey.”
Who Can Enter?
The challenge is open to members of SECU’s youth programs—specifically FAT CAT® for kids 12 and under, and Zard® for teens ages 13 through 19. (Yes, those are the actual program names, and we’re here for it.) Both programs focus on age-appropriate money management skills, from piggy bank basics to more complex financial concepts as teens gain independence.
Already have an account? Great—just make a deposit during the challenge period and you’re in. Don’t have one yet? No problem. New members who open a youth savings account and make their first deposit are eligible too.
Local Winners Across the State
Winners will be chosen through random drawings at each of SECU’s 275 branches, spreading the love across all 100 North Carolina counties. It’s a genuinely statewide effort that gives kids in every corner of the state a fair shot at winning.
More Than Just a Contest
The iPad giveaway might grab headlines, but it’s really just one piece of SECU’s broader commitment to financial education. Last year alone, the credit union provided over 1,550 free financial education sessions to North Carolina youth, reaching more than 100,000 students through schools, colleges, and community organizations.
Because at the end of the day, the real prize isn’t the tablet—it’s building the kind of money skills that’ll serve these kids long after that iPad is outdated and gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. Though let’s be honest, winning one certainly doesn’t hurt.