FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM
THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Wednesday,
Feb. 20, 2012
CONTACT: Lyn Peters, DFI Director of Communications.
Financial Education & Outreach
PH 360-902-8731 C 360-349-8501, lyn.peters@dfi.wa.gov
DFI
JOINS ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE ENCOURAGING A COMMITTMENT TO SAVING DURING
“WASHINGTON SAVES WEEK”
Washington joins national campaign aimed to help residents “Build Wealth, Not Debt”
Olympia – The
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is working with the
Washington Jump$tart Coalition and many other state agencies, non-profit
organizations and financial institutions to promote Washington Saves Week
as part of the seventh annual national America Saves Week campaign.
“In a time
when we all are striving to make our dollars do more and go farther, it’s more
important than ever to ensure we are setting aside funds for tomorrow,” DFI
Director Scott Jarvis said. “Making savings automatic makes sure it happens,
makes it easier to plan around and makes it easier to continue. Even if you
have to start small, with five or 10 dollars, that small start can make a big
difference later.”
America Saves is a national campaign involving more
than 1,000 non-profit, government, and corporate groups that encourages
individuals and families to save money and build personal wealth. Organizations throughout Washington
are coordinating Saves Week activities aimed at offering Washington residents
savings resources and education.
Understanding
that having emergency savings, retirement funds and being able to manage one’s
debt are crucial to Washington residents’ personal financial security, Governor
Jay Inslee has proclaimed Feb. 25-March 2, 2013 Washington Saves Week. http://www.dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/wa-saves/pdf/2013-proclamation.pdf
The campaign theme “Set a Goal. Make a Plan. Save Automatically.” is aimed at reminding consumers to utilize the automatic payroll deduction options at their place of employment to begin building an emergency fund, create a retirement fund or develop a targeted savings fund for their future.
We invite all
Washington residents to participate in Saves Week, Feb. 25- March 2, 2013
by visiting www.americasavesweek.org and enrolling to be an American
Saver. Submit your Washington Saves Week event or find an event in your area at
http://dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/calendar.htm.
If your
organization wants to support Washington Saves and promote the campaign, the
Saves Week organizers offer a variety of promotional materials at http://americasavesweek.org/download-materials .
A few ways
your organization can get involved include:
- Distribute
America Saves fliers and brochures and display America Saves posters
- Set
up display/area for reading/research and Web access to saving, debt
reduction and wealth building
- Host
motivational workshops and topic seminars for patrons and employees
- Encourage
enrollment as a Saver
- Place
America Saves Week article(s) in employees newsletter and patron news
- Enclose
an America Saves flier as a payroll stuffer
- Place
a link to America Saves/Washington Saves on Web site and internal network
To learn more
about the campaign and register, visit the national Web site www.americasavesweek.org or Washington Saves Week at http://www.dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/wa-saves/default.htm.
If you would
like a presenter to come to your site, DFI and/or Washington Jump$tart member
organizations can assist with finding a speaker. Send a request to Lyn Peters
at DFI (lyn.peters@dfi.wa.gov), the Washington Jump$tart Coalition (wajumpstart@gmail.com) or contact Amy O’Donnell (aodonnell@wscpa.org).
Together we
can show our support and commitment to helping our community members “Start Small,
Think Big” and “Build Wealth, Not Debt.”
###
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions regulates a variety of financial service providers such as banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, consumer loan companies, payday lenders and securities brokers and dealers. The department also works to improve financial education throughout Washington through its outreach programs and online clearinghouse www.dfi.wa.gov/financial-education. In addition to posting information about licensees and administrative actions, DFI uses the Web and social media to provide financial education information: www.twitter.com/FinEd4All n www.twitter.com/DFIConsumers n www.finlit.blogspot.com n www.youtube.com/user/WADFI n www.homeownership.wa.gov
America Saves is a nationwide campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.
Jump$tart Washington is a nonprofit coalition created to promote the need for financial education in Washington State. In 2010, we provided teacher training seminars, special events for students and succeeded in reaching thousands of consumers throughout the state. Our members include individuals, public and private organizations, educators, and non-profit associations – each passionate about making change and advancing our goal to:
- Raise awareness for the need and importance of personal financial literacy
- Increase the use of financial education programs in school and homes
- Grow
support for the coalition
Jump$tart Washington Vision Statement
Financial empowerment for Washington residents.
Jump$tart Washington Mission Statement
Jump$tart Washington promotes the development of personal finance skills of Washington residents, with emphasis on education for K-college youth.
