Build and Save

With over 90 years of experience, Express CU serves anyone living and working in Washington State, with a focus on underserved communities in the Puget Sound region.  

Express CU will implement a Vehicle Ownership Program, a matched savings initiative designed to support low-income individuals to purchase a new or used vehicle to support access to opportunity. Participants will be required to work with a financial counselor and will be eligible for either a 1:1 or a 1:5 match to support their purchase, up to a maximum of $5,000 dollars in matched funds. 

Established in 1955, FirstLight Federal CU serves the Borderplex region, which includes El Paso County, Texas, Fort Bliss, Texas, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and Juarez, Mexico.  

The existing FirstLight HomeMatch Program empowers low- to moderate-income households to achieve the dream of owning a home. This program combines a six-part financial education series with a 1:5 matched savings structure. Once a participant reaches their savings goal of up to $1,000 and is ready to close on a home, FirstLight’s foundation provides a 1:5 match, depositing up to $5,000 directly into the participant’s IDA before closing. 

MariSol Federal Credit Union (MFCU) was established in 1954 and is primarily situated in the Phoenix, Arizona region.  

MFCU’s small “emergency” savings account program will promote savings to cover expenses such as increases in energy costs, rent, car repairs, and childcare. Participants will be required to save $400.00 to receive a 1:1 match. They will also be required to attend financial education classes offered by GreenPath.  

A 90-year-old institution, Members Credit Union (MCU) serves over 4,000 members in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  

MCU’s Save and Prosper program will equip high school students with real-world financial skills. MCU will partner with CT Financial Scholars and Stamford High School to pilot the program with the students enrolled in Personal Finance classes during the school year. MCU will provide a 1:1 match and students must save between $100 and $400 to receive a full match. 

Founded in 1936, Members First Credit Union (M1) serves over 66,000 members within any county in Michigan.  

The M1 Matched Savings program will deliver financial coaching and matched savings to support the financial security of members and their households. Participants who complete a private one-hour financial coaching session and meet the emergency savings requirement will qualify for a 1:1 match of up to $400 to improve their financial well-being. 

Founded in 1964 as a credit union for federal workers, NuVista Federal Credit Union now serves about 7,100 members across Western Colorado.

In partnership with CASA, NuVista will offer 55 DREAM Access Share Certificate Accounts with a 1:2 match of up to $400 for each account. The DREAM Access Account is a 12-month Share Certificate that allows for additional deposits during the entire term. CASA tenants will be required to attend three in-person financial education classes to obtain the match.

Founded by local organizers and activists in 1982, Cooperative Federal (CoopFed) serves over 3,600 members in Syracuse, NY.  

Members in CoopFed’s Matched Savings Program will set a savings goal between $500 to $1000 over the course of a savings term of 6 months towards an approved Asset Goal: Homeownership, Small Business, or Vehicle Ownership; and receive a 1:4 match. To qualify for the program, members must complete financial empowerment activities related to their Asset Goals.  

Founded in 1996, Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union (TUFCU) serves over 4,300 members, the majority of whom come from low- to moderate-income households, who live, work, worship, or attend school in Toledo’s central neighborhoods.  

The Save to Rise program will combine regular savings deposits with structured financial empowerment education, including monthly one-on-one coaching, workshops, and progress check-ins. Participants will contribute up to $500 over a 9-month savings period, which TUFCU will match at a 1:2 ratio, providing a maximum match of $1,000 per participant. 

Founded in 1963 by teachers and public workers, Tongass Federal Credit Union (TFCU) serves over 14,000 members throughout Southeast Alaska.  

TFCU will launch a Matched Savings Program for Down Payment Assistance to address Southeast Alaska’s housing affordability challenges. This program will help low-income households save for a down payment. With a 1:2 match, members saving up to $5,000 can receive up to $10,000 toward their down payment. However, to receive the match, members must complete one online or in-person financial education event.

Established in 1955 in Tucson, Vantage West (VWCU) has since expanded its field of membership to other parts of Arizona, serving over 200,000 members.  

VWCU will augment its existing partnership with Earn to Learn,  providing low-income and rural students the opportunity to build financial stability. Under the program, each student will save $250 and receive a $250 match. Students also receive a $4,000 Earn to Learn Scholarship and a $200 Vantage West coaching incentive after four coaching appointments. This $4,700 in savings and incentives per student will result in $940,000 in asset-building and financial capability for 200 students. 

Established in 1957 to improve the financial well-being of public employees in Washington State, Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU) serves more than 300,000 members.  

WSECU’s Workforce Financial Wellness & Housing Access Program will pair credit-building tools with direct savings incentives. Participants commit to save at least $250, matched dollar-for-dollar. After that, participants will open a credit card or share-secured installment loan, helping them build or repair their credit while saving. Participants will also receive financial counseling and education to reinforce savings habits and support long-term housing stability. 

Founded in 2000 in North Carolina, Latino Community Credit Union (LCCU) emerged from several Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and local community groups, to provide a safe space for Latinos to build wealth and to access affordable financial services.

In 2024, LCCU successfully developed and led 2 rounds of a savings match program. LCCU will continue this program, where participants must save between $250 and $750 within 2 months to receive a 1:1 match, which is then all rolled over into a 6-month Certificate of Deposit.  LCCU will continue to offer the matched savings program to future graduates of the upcoming Fall 2025/Spring 2026 financial education program.

With a history of almost 70 years, Clearwater Credit Union is the second largest credit union in Montana, serving more than 64,000 members and focusing on bringing affordable and accessible financial services to all Montanans.  

Currently, Clearwater is looking to expand on their already established matched savings program. Participants will receive a 1:1 match up to $1,000 after the end of the 6-month savings period. At the end of the savings period, the matched amount will be rolled into a 6-month Certificate of Deposit. Participants are also required to utilize Pathways with Clearwater’s certified financial counselors 3-6 times throughout the savings period.