SPRINGFIELD—TelComm Credit Union presented to the Westport Middle School 8th grade class on January 23 regarding the importance of savings accounts, transaction recording, and the factors that go into a credit score.

“The earlier you start teaching your kids the importance of savings and how to responsibly use credit, the better,” said Lori Johnson Murawski, TelComm Credit Union V.P. Marketing & Business Development. “The Westport students asked excellent questions. They have a real desire to be prepared when it comes time to enter the workforce.”

The Westport students additionally had the opportunity to practice writing checks and recording their transactions in a check register. The presentation included a discussion on credit scores, what goes into them, how to improve them, and the types of credit that are available.

“Credit is daunting for many adults,” Murawski said. “There are numerous ways to help kids develop good credit habits even before they have their own card. Using prepaid gift cards can help encourage them to record their transactions. When it’s time for them to start building credit on their own, there are products like the TelComm Secured MasterCard that encourage responsible use.”

TelComm Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where members receive many benefits such as high savings rates, low loan rates and the security and convenience of a sound financial institution.  Readers of the Springfield News-Leader have voted TelComm the “Best Credit Union” in the Ozarks each year since 2005. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Greene, Christian, Lawrence, Webster and Polk counties. TelComm Credit Union has 6 locations in Springfield, Nixa, and Republic, and to date services more than 17,000 members throughout the region.