Ideal Credit Union is excited to offer two new programs designed to help members save.

Research indicates that half of Americans have less than a three-month cushion in their savings account and more than a quarter (37%) of Americans have no savings account whatsoever. Ideal Credit Union’s debit card RoundUp program is a new, innovative solution that lets debit cardholders “round up” money from every debit transaction into their savings account. Debit cardholders can choose to round up their transactions to an even dollar amount and they can add an additional $1 - $2 dollars to every transaction.

“Many of our members have made it a goal to build their savings - Ideal’s RoundUp program makes it easy to save in small, manageable increments,” said Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Alisha Johnson. “This is a great way to “round up’ every transaction and over time build a financial cushion.”

Building a savings cushion is easier with RoundUp. Every debit card transaction is also an opportunity to save – with RoundUp every time you purchase a cup of coffee, gas, or groceries and pay with your debit card, you save. For example:

•     Coffee: $1.79 = RoundUp savings of $0.21
•     Gas: $38.27 = RoundUp savings of $0.73
•     Groceries: $68.32 = RoundUp savings of $0.68
•     Total RoundUp savings for the day = $1.62.

And, when members choose to add an additional $1 or $2 to each transaction, their savings increases to $4.62 (+$1 to each transaction) or $7.62 (+$2 to each transaction). Over time, RoundUp adds up!

In addition to taking advantage of the RoundUp to each debit card transaction, members will also benefit from the great rates paid in Ideal’s new RoundUp Savings. All RoundedUp transactions are deposited into the new RoundUp Savings Account. Members can earn up 2% APY each month when they qualify for the great rates by completing routine checking account activities such as having eStatements, completing 20 debit card transactions each month and having a recurring direct deposit of at least $750. Rates range from a high 2% APY for balances up to $2,500, 1% APY for balances from $2,500 - $5,000, 0.50% for balances from $5,000 - $10,000 and to .05% APY for balances over $10,000. To help our members save, we are rewarding our small savers with the best rates. For specific information on both RoundUp and the RoundUp Savings, please visit the Ideal Credit Union website - Ideal CU RoundUp Savings Program.

Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members and community. Ideal has been voted “Best Credit Union in the East Metro” five years in a row by readers of the Stillwater Gazette, “Best Credit Union in the Forest Lake Area” by readers of the Forest Lake Times, and was named a 2021 Star Tribune Top Workplace Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services, investment services and more. Offices are conveniently located in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions.