Washington is one of four states that allows credit unions to offer what is called a “Save to Win” program, with drawings for cash prizes used as in incentive to open savings accounts. The Northwest Credit Union Association hopes to grow the program beyond the current seven participating members, including Lacey-based TwinStar. No Clark County-based credit unions have joined the program to date.
The program’s goal is to entice people to save more money. According to the Northwest Credit Union Association, 85 percent of those who opened accounts because of the program had not been previously been regular savers.