Let us guide you to the right financial path. Schedule a free Financial Health Checkup or visit your nearest Ascend branch today.

Parents want their students to be prepared for school with books, pens, and notebooks, but it’s important to equip them with the tools to tackle life’s financial stages after graduation as well.

Now more than ever, students need to start preparing for life after school by learning healthy financial habits and becoming familiar with things like credit. Ascend is here to help with accounts, products, and expertise that parents and students can utilize to be better set up for success, including:

• Youth accounts – One of the best ways for kids and young adults to learn about finances is by giving them firsthand experience by opening a youth account. The Ascend Youth Savings account is designed for those 17 years old and under, and teenagers ages 13-17 also have the option to open an Ascend Youth Checking account.

• Visa® Secured Platinum Card – The Ascend Visa Secured Platinum Card is a great option to help students build credit safely. It operates like a traditional credit card but has a credit limit determined by the security deposit you provide, giving you peace of mind. There’s also no credit check required to open, no annual fee, and a fixed rate.

• Free credit score monitoring – For Ascend members, monitoring your credit is easy thanks to SavvyMoney – a tool that provides you with credit score monitoring and helpful resources like how to establish credit, at no cost. SavvyMoney can be accessed inside Ascend Digital Banking.

• Financial Health Checkups – Ascend members can get a free Financial Health Checkup with the help of an Ascend Certified Financial Counselor. They’ll walk you through your financial plan, making sure you’re steering the correct course to meet your goals. It doesn’t matter what stage of your financial path you’re on – you'll go over your budget or create one, analyze any debt you have and how you can best manage it, and help with your savings strategies. Members can schedule a free in-person or virtual appointment at ascend.org or by visiting any of our Middle Tennessee branches.

For parents looking for an at-home and fun way to teach their children about the importance of financial literacy, Ascend offers a free Financial Education Center at ascend.org/financial-education. There, you can find interactive lessons, videos, worksheets, calculators, and more about various financial topics, including budgeting basics, investing, retirement savings, and more.

Of course, it’s also a wise financial move to look for deals during the back-to-school shopping season. This year, Tennessee’s tax-free weekend, when you can find cheaper prices and tax exemptions on computers, school supplies, and clothes, will be held from July 25-27. Make sure you don’t miss out on the deals.

No matter what stage of life you’re in, Ascend is your trusted resource that you can always turn to for financial assistance. Schedule a time to meet with an Ascend representative for a free Financial Health Checkup at ascend.org/schedule or log in to Ascend Digital Banking and take advantage of all your account features.

Ascend is federally insured by the NCUA.