Our PTA has used
Save for America
for the last 6 years in conjunction with a local bank. It has been a great program. The bank we use is has been in business in our small town since 1871 and has recently opened 3 new branches. My only concern would be that if you go with one of those banks that is constantly being "bought out", the program could become inconsistent.
Make sure you go with a well recognized bank that is willing to train your chairpeople how to effictively run the program.
Each year, the pres of the bank comes in and does an assembley explaining the program to the children and gives each an info packet and sign up form to join. The parents can be a joint holder on the acct but is not necessary. Last year, the bank also bought our PTA a new computer and laser printer to run the program because our old computer was not up to par.
It takes one committee person about 2 hours a week to do the program. She comes in on Monday and sets up outside the cafeteria. She runs it just like a teller line, takes the deposit and prints out a receipt and gives the child an incentive(supplied by bank-usually a pen, ruler etc). When she is done, she goes to the bank and makes the deposit.
Also, they get a passbook to make deposits at the bank themselves. We ask that parents don't send more than $5 a week and any "big" deposits should be made at the bank itself. We have yet to hit a snag.
Suzi
