1. Children’s Savings Account Program
Treasurer’s Office of Financial Empowerment
St. Louis, MO
Erin Thiemann, CSA Coordinator

2. CSA Goals Make college accessible to our city’s students
Create a culture of asset-building for low and moderate income families
Increase access to and utilization of safe and affordable financial products
Boost financial capability of city families
Leverage private investment in our youngest generation

3. College Kids $50 seed deposit
All Kindergarten students in a public or charter school
Deposit-only custodial savings account
Exempt from asset tests (SNAP, WIC, TANF)
Universal, Automatic (opt-out)
Withdrawals for college expenses (ACT, application fees)

4. Our Partners Credit Union School District Financial Education
Research Partner
Holds accounts, shares transaction-level data, and hosts Family Savings Nights
Shares student data, parent coordinators serve as liaisons, and host family events at schools
Provides online and smartphone access to parent financial education
Behavioral economics research lab, engaged in multiple RCTs

5. Incentives Attendance: College Expectations
Look for incentives that are easy to access for families, easy to track for evaluation, are sustainable over the life of your program, and align with your program goals
Family Financial Education: Financial Security
and well being
Matched Deposits:
Asset accumulation

6. Savings Family Deposits Incentives Earned Total College Savings
Attendance, Parent Financial Education, and Matches
Includes seed deposits
Cash, Check, Direct Deposit, Online Bill Pay
$69,143
$464,848
$14,745

7. Linking Families to Resources
•Attending Lunch and Learns at the OFE
•One-on-one financial coaching via Operation HOPE
•Bank on Save Up
•Referrals to down payment assistance/housing programs
•Additional products at 1st Financial (114 accounts)
•Partnership with VITA sites to directly deposit tax refund into CK account
•Financial Education and Asset Building in 40+ languages with the International Institute

8. Family Engagement Family Savings Nights at the Credit Union
Your Money Your Goals Classes
Back to School Events
Kindergarten Graduation

9. Questions? Erin Thiemann thiemanne@stlouis-mo.gov