Partner Story

How Community Choice Credit Union
Transformed Their Youth Account Program With The Money Mammals

Learn how “the UNbank” found a way to connect with a younger client base.
Supercharge Your Youth Accounts!

57%

more users on
kids club site (Q/Q)

20+

account sign-ups per event

Named Best Family Bank

— Des Moines Parent

Community Choice Credit Union, a staple in Iowa for over 70 years, serves more than 50,000 members across 10 locations in the Des Moines metro area. With a reputation for being “the UNbank,” the credit union is known for its fun, welcoming atmosphere—bright colors, popcorn Fridays and even a sucker wall.

The Challenge Connecting with a Younger Generation

The marketing team knew that they were missing a big opportunity by not promoting their youth account program. The program lacked a library of content and a cohesive brand behind it. They considered rebuilding the program internally but soon calculated that finding an expert partner in the space would be more time- and cost-effective.

“Our youth account program was very neglected. We weren’t doing any marketing around them. If we missed engaging kids early, we risked losing them—and their families—as lifelong members.” — Bryce Verlinden,
Marketing Manager

The Solution with The Money Mammals

Onboarding in
Snigglezoo Style

The Snigglezoo team helped Community Choice learn how to engage kids and empower parents through The Art of Allowance Project by:
  • Providing a comprehensive suite of materials, including financial education tools, best practices documents and customizable marketing assets
  • Hosting a program discovery session, featuring a website tour and an operations overview
  • Curating an assortment of items to help Community Choice promote the program, including character stickers, parent take-ones and quarterly newsletters
“From the first meeting, we were blown away by the resources and support.” — Bryce Verlinden,
Marketing Manager

Making a Splash at Launch

Community Choice launched The Art of Allowance Project in March 2024—just in time for Credit Union Youth Month. Their impactful strategies included:
  • Hosting launch events at select branches and a food truck park
  • Partnering with a local influencer to spread awareness
  • Entering all Money Mammals account holders in a drawing for a trip to a Central Florida theme park

Continuing to Build Money-Smart Momentum

Community Choice has steadily expanded their youth program’s impact by:
  • Sending quarterly newsletters to over 1,800 accounts
  • Featuring a promotional piece on the folders of a local elementary school
  • Being present at family-focused events, including Disney on Ice and the Iowa State Fair
  • Deploying a Money Mammals-themed Smart car as a mobile billboard
  • Participating in regular success calls and KPI reviews with the Snigglezoo team

The Results

The program’s results are clear and impressive. Youth savings accounts grew by 17%, while kids club website traffic saw an increase of over 55% in users and over 40% in total sessions during Q4 2024. Typical events resulted in 25 - 50 new youth account sign-ups.

These efforts also contributed to Community Choice being voted “Best Family Bank” of 2024 by Des Moines Parent followers, solidifying their position as a trusted financial partner for families.

Money Mammals “In the Wild”
“Money Mammals isn’t hands-off after the launch. Their support has been incredible, from quarterly check-ins to brainstorming new ideas. They’re truly invested in our success.” — Bryce Verlinden,
Marketing Manager

Looking to the Future

As the program enters its second year, Community Choice is planning even bigger initiatives. A “Family Day” at the local zoo and expanded community event participation with their Money Mammals vehicle are among the plans. “Now that people recognize the program, we’re focused on building on this momentum and making an even greater impact,” Bryce explained.