Maizie Price-Loving, 2, of Citrus Heights shows off her $1 bill. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - SAFE Credit Union opened its Antelope branch doors for the 10th year to area preschoolers, giving them a VIP tour and firsthand lesson about spending and saving money.

“The kids have a lot of fun and we love helping them learn about money and setting them up for success sooner than later,” explained SAFE Credit Union Community Development Specialist Alex Becerra. “At SAFE we actually offer checking accounts to kids as young as six years old. Incidentally, these preschoolers aren’t really that far off from actually applying much of what they learned here today.”

During the Wednesday field trip, more than 25 Play with Me Preschool children and their families took a tour of the branch and listened to story time where Becerra taught them about the basics of credit unions and money.

The preschoolers then each took a turn visiting the teller window and signature pad to withdraw their very own $1 bill before walking to nearby Yogurt Time Cafe to use their dollar to purchase a special treat.

Rio Linda resident Shyanne Ditty, who came with her 5-year-old daughter Kelsey Roberts, was looking forward to the field trip, having taken her 13-year-old Kylee Ditty when she was in preschool.

“I love it,” Ditty said, adding her oldest remembers her first experience with banking. “It really shows them everything they need to learn about money.”

Roseville resident Che Vander Leun, 4, especially liked using his dollar bill to buy a frozen yogurt.

“I got chocolate,” Leun said. “Also gummies.”

Camryn Cecchettini, 3, of Roseville, Malia Dudley, 4, of Antelope, Kelsey Roberts, 5, or Rio Linda and Lilah Wise, 3, of Antelope enjoy their frozen treat that they purchased with their $1 after their tour of SAFE Credit Union in Antelope. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

SAFE financial education experts advise it is never too early to introduce children to basic concepts about money, especially in a way they can understand and is relevant to them.

SAFE’s financial wellness team fulfills the credit union cooperative principle to share profits within communities through free financial education to its members as well as the communities the credit union serves.

“Our entire staff participates in getting this special event ready for the kids,” said SAFE Credit Union Assistant Vice President Training and Antelope Branch Manager Avinesh Naidu. “We want to make everything as welcoming as possible for them to have a great learning experience.”

For more information about the event or to interview SAFE Credit Union Community Development Specialist Alex Becerra, contact SAFE Credit Union Senior Communications and Public Relations Specialist Robyn Eifertsen at [email protected] or 916-809-7002.