Growing into Good Habits
No one is born knowing how to handle money. It's something we all learn along the way.
Form good habits early and, with a little help, they can last a lifetime. Gather FCU is the "little help" part. We have special accounts and services designed to get our young members off to a smart start.
Youth Checking (Ages 11-17)
Give your child a head start in learning how to manage money by opening a Youth Checking Account. This account has many of the same features as our regular checking - with peace of mind for parents or guardians at no additional cost!
Key Benefits Include:
Parental Controls using our Card Control Companion App
- Set Spending Limits
- Instantly Freeze Debit Card use at any time
- Get alerts when your child uses their debit card
Account Alerts
- Know where your child spends
- Notifications on high dollar purchases
- Get notified if the balance falls below a pre-set threshold
Easy Transfer of Funds from Parent to Child
- Unlimited transfers into your childs account
- Schedule transfers into account
Piece of Mind
- No Monthly Fees
- Avoid Overdraft Fees with Overdraft Protection
*Must choose to opt-out of courtesy pay protection.
Building Blocks (Ages 10 & under)
Gather's Building Blocks program is a fun and easy way to teach kids the value of saving. It just takes $6 to start. Plus, our young members get a free gift with every $10 deposit.
- Earn quarterly dividends
- Online access to accounts
- Online financial games and tools
Smart Savers (Ages 11-15)
The next step in helping build financial responsibility early is Gather's Smart Savers program. After starting with a Share Savings account, young teens can follow good examples of money management skills with accounts and services designed just for them.
- Online access to accounts
- Just $6 to open a savings account
- Fee-Free ATM or Check Card valid nationwide
Your Choice (Ages 16-24)
Gather's Your Choice program is the first step to independence. Keep personal accounts, manage money and build smart habits that can be the basis for a lifetime of financial growth.
- Online access to accounts
- Just $6 to open a savings account
- Fee-Free ATM or Check Card valid nationwide
- Access to personal loans like auto, computer, school and travel loans
Youth member referral rewards
Refer a friend to a youth account and earn cash. If someone you refer signs up for a Gather account, we'll add credit to your Share Savings account.
Additional Services
High School Credit Unions
Gather partners with several local high schools to operate on-campus, student-run credit unions. These unique educational programs provide real-world experiences for our next generations of community leaders.
Bank Bus
Our youth savings program, Bank Bus, helps young members build real-life saving habits. The Gather Bank Bus regularly visits local elementary schools to help students learn about savings basics and make deposits to their Share Savings accounts.
Scholarships
Every year, Gather awards scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to attend college. Applications are currently open and available for download here.
Coverdell Education Savings Account (CSEA)
Parents and grandparents can start planning for their child's college fund with a tax-free account created to help maximize education savings.
