JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
For Joint Base Andrews' servicemembers and their families looking to get some financial education or advice, Andrews Federal Credit Union, as part of Military Saves Week, is hosting some informative events next week both on Andrews and at their headquarters on Allentown Road.
"Military Saves is a social campaign that was first introduced through the Department of Defense in February 2007," said Suzanne Curren, director of Public Relations & Community Development, Andrews Federal Credit Union. "The campaign's goal is to promote healthy financial habits among servicemembers. The campaign also creates awareness of how important it is to save toward short-term and long-term financial goals. While the campaign is a year-round event, special emphasis is placed on savings during Military Saves Week. This year, Military Saves Week is Feb. 20 - 27."
Andrews Federal has scheduled several seminars during Military Saves week to provide sound financial guidance to the servicemembers on Joint Base Andrews. Andrews Federal will also promote Military Saves in their Joint Base Andrews branch located in Building 1682 near the theatre and bowling alley by handing out a flyer and bookmark detailing financial tips.
During Military Saves week, Andrews Federal holds financial-education seminars; hands out savings tip flyers in their branches, provides special savings giveaways and even devotes a special page on their online education center (www.andrewsfcu.org/militarysaves) to highlighting information, tools and resources that can assist servicemembers with jumpstarting their savings and paying off debt.
"At Andrews Federal, our financial education initiatives are aimed at helping people build wealth and achieve their dreams," Ms. Curren said. "During Military Saves Week, we've tried to choose seminars that would reach a broad spectrum of attendees regardless of where they are in their financial lives. The 'Your Money, Take Charge!' seminar is geared toward younger individuals who make just be starting to set financial goals and think about their future. The other two seminars, 'Who Has Your Number?' (Identity Theft) and 'Solving the Mysteries of Credit?', would be suitable for anyone, regardless of their financial knowledge."
Two of the seminars will be held in partnership with the Airmen & Family Readiness Center:
Solving the Mysteries of Credit
9 - 10 a.m. Friday, February 25 at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center
Who Has Your Number? (Identity Theft)
11 a.m. - noon Friday, February 25 at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center
Reservations for these two seminars can be made via the Airmen & Family Readiness Center at (301) 981-7087.
The third seminar will be held at the Andrews Federal Credit Union headquarters building which is off base on Allentown Road, directly across the street from the back of Malcolm Grow Hospital:
It's Your Money, Take Charge!
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. February 26 at the Andrews Federal Headquarters building at 5711 Allentown Road.
Reservations can be made via their website www.andrewsfcu.org/seminars or through their reservation hotline (800)399-4066.
If servicemembers find it difficult to get away from the work environment to attend a seminar, Andrews Federal has also offered to visit any unit or squadron on Joint Base Andrews and provide a seminar at their location. Any interested commanders or first sergeants can reach them at education@andrewsfcu.org. There is also a great deal of information available at the Military Saves website: www.militarysaves.org.
"For the younger Airmen or Sailor, it's important to get the basics as early as possible so that you can develop good money management skills and avoid some of the mistakes that others have made," Ms. Curren said. "The sessions are free and provide information that can be used long after the seminar is over. For more financially experienced individuals, attending a session can often make them stop and take inventory of where they are on their financial journey. It's a great way to take stock of where you are and where you want to go. I have had many more seasoned people tell me that they have learned something that they plan to apply immediately. Sometimes you have to be in the right frame of mind and at the right point in your life for financial knowledge to be 'heard'."