Woodstone Credit Union Celebrates Financial Literacy Month This April

FEDERAL WAY, Wash., April 14 /PRNewswire/ — As recent studies continue to illustrate, the effects of not adequately educating our youth regarding financial responsibility are grim. A solid financial education is a fundamental ingredient to a happy, secure future. Just in time for Financial Literacy Month, Woodstone is announcing an enhanced and expanded financial education program to reach more youth than ever with the essential skills they need to make smart financial choices that will positively affect their future and enhance their ability to give back to the community.

For over a decade, Woodstone has offered a high-school program in two Federal Way high schools. With the new format, Woodstone staff is now educating students on the financial planning curriculum in classrooms at all Federal Way High Schools. The enhanced program incorporates a nationally recognized curriculum created by the National Endowment Financial Education (NEFE) High School Financial Planning Program. Since Woodstone implemented the NEFE program in November 2007, 264 students have benefited from taking the course.

In addition to the classroom instruction, Woodstone is offering an after-school program “Financial Skills for Life” at their main office featuring the NEFE curriculum. The first workshop series has just been completed with 14 students participating. Registration is currently underway for the second series of free workshops, which will take place on four Wednesday’s in April and May. To find out more information visit http://www.woodstonecu.org/ .

Both programs are designed to equip high school youth with practical yet essential financial skills to enable them to lead healthy financial futures. The curriculum covers a comprehensive range of topics including:

   — Budgeting — managing spending and saving   — Investing — time value of money and exploring investment options   — Career Choices — education and earning potential   — Money Safety and Security — avoiding identity theft    

The benefits of participating in a financial education program such as these offered by Woodstone are notable. Research shows that university administrators lose more students to credit card debt than to academic failure.

The good news is that students who do participate in this type of financial education program show positive changes in their spending habits in a very short time. With only 10 hours of financial education, students have shown:

   — 39% reported believing in how they managed their money would affect      their future   — 86% demonstrated an increase in financial knowledge or behavior when      dealing with money   — 31% began using a spending plan or budget   — 36% wrote down money management goals   — 50% understood the cost of credit    

In addition, behavior showed significant changes after students participated in a financial education program for 3 months. (National Endowment for Financial Education, 1998)

About Woodstone Credit Union

Woodstone Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where relationships mean more. Founded in 1941 as a credit union for Weyerhaeuser corporate employees, today it still proudly serves Weyerhaeuser employees as part of its community of 12,000 members. It currently has about $85 million in assets. Headquartered in Federal Way, Washington, its’ membership is open to everyone living or working in Washington. It has two full service branches in Federal Way. In addition to the branches, members also have access to online banking, and a phone center to help with financial needs. For more information visit woodstonecu.org or call 1-800-334-9828 or 253-925-6800.

Woodstone Credit Union

CONTACT: Stacia Kirby, +1-206-363-1492, stacia@speakeasy.net, forWoodstone Credit Union

Web site: http://www.woodstonecu.org/