Adalynn Perry, 4, of Rio Linda smiles with her new dollar bill during a special behind-the-scenes visit at SAFE Credit Union’s Antelope branch. Photo courtesy of Safe Credit Union

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Preschoolers from Antelope, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Rio Linda and Roseville received a special behind-the-scenes visit at SAFE Credit Union’s Antelope branch.

The ninth annual VIP tour and financial education event brought Antelope’s Play With Me Preschool children and their families to the branch.

Preschoolers Sevak Bal, 3, of Antelope, and Nora Elmer, 4, of Fair Oaks, gather before their field trip at the SAFE Antelope branch with their teacher and Play With Me Preschool owner Becky Weaver. The preschool has visited the branch each February for nine years. Photo courtesy of Safe Credit Union

Preschoolers learned the basics about money, toured the vault, and interacted one-on-one with a branch teller to sign the withdrawal keypad to receive a $1 bill. They used the cash toward buying a treat at nearby Yogurt Time.

“It was truly heartwarming to welcome the kids and their parents and to see the excitement on the kids’ faces as they built up their financial awareness through the tour and the hands-on withdrawal experience,” SAFE Credit Union Antelope Branch Manager Avi Naidu said.

SAFE Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial institution, shares in the credit union cooperative principle of sharing profits within communities through financial education.

Preschooler Olivia Cid, 4, of Antelope raises her hand alongside Ava Bower, 4, during an introduction about money by SAFE’s certified financial educators. Photo courtesy of Safe Credit Union

“Parker’s favorite part of the field trip was signing his name on the electronic pad,” said mother Connie Broome of Citrus Heights. “He enjoyed being able to act like a grown-up at the teller stand.”

Parent and Antelope resident Jennifer Martindale said it was her daughter Riley’s first trip to a bank and that she especially “liked getting her dollar.”

“I like all of the money,” said Riley, 4. “I liked seeing the bank safe the most.”

SAFE’s Training Branch Manager Avi Naidu helps a field trip attendee with a signature pad. Photo courtesy of Safe Credit Union

Martindale said that Riley’s full experience culminated with Riley using her dollar toward buying a vanilla yogurt with gummy worms and crumbled Oreos.

“I think she listened and learned more about money than ever before,” Martindale said. “Having to put your money into the safe and going to the bank in order to pull it out, she learned about where money (actually) goes.”

SAFE Credit Union’s Vice-President Retail Branches Janine Southwick said the branch and retail staff created a supporting and welcoming environment for families.

Jennifer Anderson and her daughter Adalynn Perry, 4, of Rio Linda visit Yogurt Time after getting a VIP tour of SAFE Credit Union's Antelope branch. Photo courtesy of Safe Credit Union

“We feel so fortunate to have been able to welcome our smallest of members in the community into our Antelope branch for their first in-person lesson in banking,” Southwick said. “I’m so proud of our branch and retail teams for creating such a fun-filled and educational environment for these preschoolers.”

SAFE’s financial education team members introduced students to how money works and gave them each a Mr. SAFE piggy bank.

SAFE Credit Union community relationship specialist Miriam Dougherty explained to the preschoolers how saving money in their new piggy banks will help them buy items later.

She offered parents advice on how to talk with their children about money.

Saul Mapa, 4, of Antelope, buys his yogurt treat after visiting and withdrawing a dollar from SAFE's Antelope branch. Photo courtesy of Safe Credit Union

“One significant mistake is not talking with your kids about money at all, or if you do, it may be in a negative way,” said Dougherty, a certified financial educator. “It’s OK to be honest about money but at the same time it’s best to do it in a healthy way that can start with explaining to children the difference between wants versus needs.”

Along with facilitating special educational events, SAFE’s financial education team regularly conducts Budget Cents programs for teens at area high schools and at juvenile detention centers through a partnership with Sacramento County Department Education. Each financial literacy lesson starts by giving students mock budgets and incomes to learn how to manage.