ALPENA — Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union (AAACU) on March 11 hosted a Financial Reality Fair for students at ACES Academy. AAACU has partnered with ACES to provide this educational opportunity to teach students the importance of budgeting and saving money.

This year AAACU was able to bring the students a new format for the event through a mobile app. Within the app the students were able to select from various careers listed and then, based on their career choice, students were assigned a starting salary, a credit score, and a small savings account balance. The students then visit lifestyle stations that focus on expenses in life such as housing, transportation, clothing, and food that they would need to fit within their monthly budget.

In addition, students that selected careers that required college degrees were faced with student loans that impacted their monthly budget. The credit union is proud to continue to provide this financial literacy program to students across Northeast Michigan through its partnership with the Michigan Credit Union Foundation.

New investment program

AAACU is dedicated to helping the communities it serves with its new Community Investment Program. Throughout the year 2020, the credit union will be giving $144,000 to help organizations and programs right in its own local hometowns.

AAACU has pledged to reinvest $144,000 back into the communities it serves by encouraging members to enroll in electronic statement services. With each member that enrolls in this service, the credit union will donate 75 cents a month/$9 a year back into the community.Currently 55% of AAACU members are enrolled to receive electronic statements. Enroll by logging into your online account or by calling the credit union at 989-356-3577.

Membership is available to individuals that reside, work, own property, attend school, or worship in the state of Michigan.