HOUSTON–New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union has joined with a local company to bring the PerkUp financial wellness program to workers at one company facility here. PerkUp is a fully automated, credit union-sponsored online program, accessible from in-plant kiosks or from any digital device, that incorporates rewards and behavioral finance tools to engage employees. Employees are rewarded, or "perked," as they improve their financial knowledge.
“If they want to join the sponsoring credit union, they can do that through an online portal, as well as open accounts and even take out loans without having to visit a credit union branch,” the company said.
New Orleans Firemen's FCU is installing the PerkUp kiosk in one of its SEGs, where several hundred workers are already members.
The financial wellness program is an extension of Firemen's FCU's financial literacy efforts, which includes a full-time financial counselor, financial education partnerships with local schools, and regular lunch workshops on financial topics at various SEGs, according to the company.
PerkUp, which debuted in 2015, lets individuals take quizzes, play games, and engage in other activities that help them learn more about how to manage their money and save for their future. The employees win rewards and perks both for the learning activities and for their responsible financial activities, such as adding to their savings accounts.