ChoiceOne Bank is teaming with a local foundation to provide $50 savings accounts to every kindergarten student in Newaygo County, in western Michigan.
The bank and the Freemont Area Community Foundation are launching the “Kickstart to Career” program March 22 at the Neway Center in Newaygo, a town of about 2,000 people. The program is designed to assist with post-secondary education expenses.
A joint program of Fremont Area Community Foundation and ChoiceOne Bank, Kickstart to Career Newaygo County is a children’s savings account program designed to build aspirations, encourage savings, increase financial education and assist with career preparation, training or college expenses. The program is managed by the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Each kindergarten student in Newaygo County has the opportunity to be the beneficiary of an account at ChoiceOne Bank, opened with a $50 deposit from Fremont Area Community Foundation.
“Choice One was selected because of our ability to offer financial literacy education, our commitment to work personally with the students and the technology to make it easy for students and parents,” said ChoiceOne Bank President and CEO Kelly Potes.
During an event kickoff, the superintendent is scheduled to pass out piggy banks to students as they return to school.
“As the local community bank, we believe healthy communities start with healthy families,” Potes said. “Our children are the heart of our families and giving them educational opportunities to succeed today is vital to their future. We are pleased to partner with the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Kickstart to Career program and believe this program will help strengthen our families and our communities of Newaygo County.”
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., is the Sparta, Mich., based holding company for the $643 million ChoiceOne Bank.