>>> THE FOLLOWING SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY PACIFIC NORTEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. >>> WELCOME BACK TO A.M. NORTHWEST. HERE TO SHARE HOW PACIFIC NORTHWEST FERAL CREDIT UNION IS COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK, WE WELCOME THEIR CEO, TOM GRIFFITH. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEDERAL EDIT UNION. >> CREDIT UNIONS ARE FINANCIAL COOPERATIVES OWNED BY THE MEMBERS. WE ARE NOT FOR PROFIT. WE ARE NOT NONPROFI, BUT WE ARE NOT FOR PROFIT. WE STARTED AS BONNEVILLE POWER CREDIT UNION. SOME PEOPLE HAD A BOX IN THE BASEMENT, MAKING SMALL LOANS TO THEIR OTHER EMPLOYEES. >> YOU HAVE MADE FINANCIAL EDUCATION A PRIORITY. I WISH THAT HAD BEEN AROUND FOREVER. TELL ME NOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATING FOLKS. >> SURE, WHEN WE CONVERTED BACK IN 2018, WE DECIDED AND LOOKED AT WHAT OUR MISSION WOULD BE. WE DECIDED THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY IS WOEFULLY LACKING. IT IS NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. THE SENATE BILL THAT RECENTLY PASSED IS NOW BRINGING IT BACK IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. BUT WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO HELP OUR MEMBERS LEARN MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, SO THAT THEY CAN REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS SO WE HIRED A CLASSROOM TEACHER WHO HAS BUILT MODULES ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION, COVERING FROM KINDERGARTEN UP THROUGH ADULTHOOD, TEACHING JUST WHAT IS MONEY, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIGH HOOL. >> FROM KINDERGARTEN ON UP. >> WE HAVE GOT TO START THEM EARLY. >> WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? >> OUR SPECIALIST GETS INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND HELPS TEACHERS PUT TOGETHER DOWNLOADABLE MODULES. WE HAVE OVER 11,000 DOWNLOADABLE MODULES, OR THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOWNLOADED. THE FIRST ONE YOU MENTIONED IS, WHAT IS MONEY? >> FLASHCARDS WITH PENNIES, NICKELS, DIMES FOR GRADESCHOOL KIDS. WE HAVE A CLASS THAT TEACHES ABOUT COMPOUNDING INTEREST. WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE? $1000 OR ONE PENNY A DAY, DOUBLED EVERY DAY. IT RAPIDLY SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT COMPOUNDING INTEREST IS FOR TAINING YOUR RETIREMENT. >> LIVING ON YOUR OWN, BECAUSE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THINKING, I CAN LIVE ON MY OWN. HOW TO BUDGET! ANWHAT IS CREDIT? >> EVERYONE WANTS TO GIVE YOU CREDIT. BUT HOW TO DO THAT INTELLIGENTLY, SO YOU DO NOT GET INTO A HOLE THAT YOU CANNOT DIG OUT OF. >> HOW ARE THESE PROGRAMS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PROGRAMS? >> I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS YOU CAN BUY. WE DECIDED TO BUILD OUR OWN. NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BUILT PROGRAMS AND CAN GO OUT THERE A INTO THEIR OWN CURRENT CURRICULUM. IT CAN FIT INTO THE CURRICULUM, WHEREVER THEY WANT. BUT IT CAN TAKE A WHOLE GROUP OF MODULES TO TEAK -- TEACH A WHOLE COURSE. THIS IS FOR THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. THIS IS FOR THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WHO CAN DOWNLOAD THE MODULES. WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH MATERIALS, IF THEY NEED IT. WE WILL COME IN AND TEACH THE CLASS, IN THE EIGHT COUNTIES THAT WE SUPPORT. >> YOU MUST BELIEVE THIS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE YACHT -- LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE? >> I THINK IT DOES. I HAVE CHILDREN AND I HAVE TAUGHT THEM AS THEY HAVE GONE ALONG. AND THE WAY THEIR EYES OPEN UP WHEN THEY REALIZE, CREDIT IS NOT BAD. BUT CREDIT CAN BE BAD. >> RIGHT. >> AND HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES. IT IS JUST VERY IMPORTANT. >> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GREAT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE, CONTACT PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEDERAL CR