By Ray Birch
BOSTON— What if learning how to protect your money, spot fraud, and manage a car loan felt more like a game than a lecture?
At Hanscom Federal Credit Union, that’s no longer a hypothetical.
In the heart of Boston’s Government Center, nestled inside a bright, modern branch dubbed WealthTrek – Boston, HFCU has launched a bold, first-of-its-kind experiment in financial education: a fully immersive, escape room-style questing experience that teaches critical money skills through puzzles, teamwork, and gamified storytelling. It’s part education, part entertainment—and 100% unlike any bank credit union members have ever seen.
“Gamification is very popular these days,” said Peter Rice, CEO of $1.9-billion Hanscom FCU. “People are learning through experiences that are fun, engaging, and interactive. We asked ourselves: if we don't embrace that now, how are we going to stay relevant five or ten years from now?”
Welcome To ‘Meow or Never’
The featured experience, titled “Meow or Never: Cats, Puzzles, and Purrsonal Finance,” transforms a 2,300-square-foot space into a four-stage financial quest. While the specifics are deliberately kept under wraps (to avoid spoilers), participants can expect to move through themed challenges—each designed to mimic real-life financial decisions, threats, or opportunities.
One scenario focuses squarely on a growing concern for every American: fraud.
“I don’t know a single person who hasn’t received a fake text or phishing email in the past six months,” said Rice. “It’s a big problem. And we wanted to create a safe place for our members to learn how to spot scams and respond with confidence.”
In the fraud-focused room, guests navigate through clues and tasks involving items like a cat bowl and a real ATM, solving puzzles that teach them how to evaluate suspicious messages, protect personal information, and make smarter financial choices.
Learning By Doing
The initiative is more than a clever marketing tactic—it’s a mission-driven pivot toward inclusivity and innovation in financial education.
Peter Rice
“We wanted to break down the shame and stigma around needing financial help,” Rice said. “This experience builds confidence. It gives people a chance to make mistakes and learn—without consequences.”
That message is resonating far beyond HFCU’s member base. WealthTrek – Boston follows the success of a prototype launched last year in Burlington, Mass., where the first escape room scenario focused on auto loans. Over 350 members tested the experience in its early days, offering vital feedback that shaped the current format.
And it’s not just members who are paying attention. The concept has drawn the interest of educators and researchers, including Mary Jean Hughes, Ed.D., MA, OTR/L, an occupational therapy professor at Regis College.
“These innovative questing experiences in financial institutions promote client-centered, evidence-based, meaningful experiences celebrating diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Hughes. “All the stakeholders involved benefit. The HFCU WealthTrek questing rooms in Burlington and Boston are empowering accessible innovation through multi-modal learning and bridging disciplines for a sustainable and bright future.”
An Agile, Digital Future
Inside WealthTrek, the learning is anything but static. Thanks to a sophisticated blend of physical elements and custom software, HFCU can refresh the room’s content digitally—meaning new topics like budgeting, credit management, or retirement planning could soon make an appearance.
“It’s a very agile concept,” said Rice. “We control everything—from the lighting and temperature to the game progression—through a complex digital backend. Think of it like a Disney attraction with a financial twist.”
That level of immersion is no accident. HFCU has invested in creating a high-quality experience, complete with custom coding and theatrical flair.
And the result?
“People come out of the room smiling and asking, ‘Can you bring this to our schools? To the AARP?’” said Rice. “That’s how we know it’s working—not just as an educational tool, but as something that genuinely excites people.”
The Road Ahead
With both Burlington and Boston locations now running fully functional quest rooms, Hanscom FCU is just getting started. The financial cooperative is exploring potential collaborations with schools, nonprofits, and academic institutions to expand the reach of its WealthTrek model.
At a time when financial stress and digital scams are rising, HFCU’s investment in hands-on, emotionally supportive education is striking a powerful chord.
“We want to give our members—and the broader community—the tools to navigate life’s financial challenges,” Rice said. “And we want them to leave feeling capable, empowered, and maybe even a little inspired.”