Vision Credit Education, Inc.

The North Carolina Saves statewide campaign led the nation during Saves Week, held from February 24 through March 2. A total of 2,700 individuals and families made written commitments to begin saving for a number of important goals.

Saves Week is a national effort to concentrate efforts of campaign partners in order to gain substantial community commitment to saving. The North Carolina Saves campaign was the most active campaign nationwide during Saves Week.

“Thanks to our partners, 2,700 individuals and families are now committed to a savings goal that will brighten their futures. This is more important than ever due to the condition of our economy.”

–Shayna Simpson-Hall, Executive Director, IDA and Asset Building Collaborative of North Carolina

The national effort is called the America Saves campaign. America Saves is managed by the Consumer Federation of America.

Like the national campaign, a coalition of nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups and government agencies partners together to spread the message of saving throughout the communities that North Carolina Saves serves. The message is that anyone can save, and it all starts with a commitment and a penny saved. Together these organizations are helping families build wealth, not debt.

NC Saves week is a coordinated effort to take advantage of the enormous numbers of taxpayers that are flocking to VITA and Tax Aide sites for free income tax filing. Additionally, many groups take advantage of the media coverage and enhanced publicity of saving during this week.

“NC Saves Week gave North Carolinians a unique opportunity to demonstrate the power of saving, while providing access to low-cost, simple to use savings accounts to begin saving for the future. Taking control of our financnes and finding that extra money to save provides stability, hope and opportunity for all our families.”

–Jill Cox, Government Relations and Communications Director, United Way of North Carolina

North Carolina Saves is able to help lower income families obtain free savings accounts with balance requirements of $25 or less. This is thanks to a network of financial institutions throughout North Carolina that have signed on to the campaign.

Several institutions provided savings bonds during NC Saves Week in order to help promote the event and to jump start individual savings plans. Contributors include Asheville Savings Bank, Capital Bank, Generations Credit Union, Mountain First Bank, RBC Bank, SunTrust and Wachovia.

Individual savers that would like to commit to saving may sign up online. All Savers receive the free American Saver quarterly newsletter, which is packed with savings tips and stories from other Savers across the nation.