An introduction to the America Saves porgram

1. America Saves® in NM:
America Saves Week 2012
Fahzy Abdul-Rahman
Centra Training
September 15, 2011

2. Outline
1. Introduction
2. America Saves® Week
3. NM Saves Effort
4. Inputs & Discussion

3. New
Economic
Normal?

4. 1. Introduction
America Saves is a national campaign that helps
individuals save money and take positive financial
action.
• Main goals: Help individuals of all income levels
– save money and
– build wealth, not debt
• Launched 2001 in Cleveland
• A Non-profit Consumer Federation of America
(CFA) program.
– CFA is comprised of over 270 consumer education,
advocacy, and cooperative organizations

5. 2. America Saves® Week
• Vs. America Saves®
– Week- vs. Year-round activities
• America Saves® Week
– Activities: State capital proclamation, public serve
announcement, media coverage, e-mail blasts,
brochures, Chamber of Commerce Saves
celebration, piggy bank decoration, coupon
workshop, financial fair, university/company
president speech, “plastic” surgery

6. The Idea
• Individuals can join as a “Saver” with their
– local campaign or at the America Saves website or
– Paper-and-pencil enrolment.
• Once signed up, they receive regular support,
encouragement and advice from the campaign
– American Saver newsletter,
– the monthly e-Wealth Coach series, and
– access to saving tips and advice

7. www.americasaves.org

8. Savers
Form

9. The Idea: Action-Based
• Open a saving account
– or other wealth building product
• Save automatically
– Pay Yourself First (PYF)
• Set aside money for an emergency fund
– E.g. a car repair or trip to the emergency room
– If none, Predatory Lending
• Payday Lending: 390%

10. General Approach
• Community-wide, for example, through local
news coverage, radio ads, and transit posters;
• Institutionally, for example, through
employers, schools, churches, community
groups, and financial institutions; and
• Personally through relatives, friends,
neighbors, and co-workers.

11. Common Strategy
• Through appropriate messaging, outreach,
opportunities, and support
• Signing up individuals as members of the
campaign
• Participating in America Saves Week (ASW) on
an annual basis
• Working with financial institutions
• Becoming the recognized expert on savings

12. What America Saves® Provide:
• Printing of the basic brochure and possibly a
poster.
• The quarterly American Saver newsletter to all
your Savers.
– Mailing this if you so desire.
• Evaluation: Maintenance of your data-base of
Savers.
• Your own web-site.
• Opportunity to participate in the National Forum
to Promote Lower-Income Household Savings
• Advice

13. Example of Free Support Provide
BROCHURE

14. http://njsaves.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/02/
America-Saves-English-
Brochure.pdf
New Jersey Saves

15. http://njsaves.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/02/
America-Saves-English-
Brochure.pdf
New Jersey Saves

16. http://njsaves.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/02/
America-Saves-English-
Brochure.pdf
New Jersey Saves

17. 3. NM Saves Effort
• Build from the existing networks:
– With banks, CU, schools, churches, companies
• Invite them to join on collaboration efforts
– E-mail and article template provided
• We’ll work from there
– Media exposure: TV, radio, newspaper
– Social Media Marketing

18. tennesseesaves.org/

19. In the Chat Box …
• Please jolt down in the chat box:
–Existing parties in your
state/county networks who are
very likely to get involved in NM
Saves®
• Please be specific
• E.g. First light CU, Clayton HS, Lovington
Worker’s Union

20. 4. Questions, Inputs, & Discussion

21. America Saves® in NM:
America Saves Week 2012
Fahzy Abdul-Rahman
Centra Training
September 15, 2011