NCACPA Joins North Carolina Saves Campaign

With the creation of the North Carolina Saves Campaign, North Carolina is now a partner in the America Saves Campaign (an initiative by the Consumer Federation of America). North Carolina Saves is coordinated by a statewide coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups. The coalition, chaired by State Treasurer Richard Moore, includes NCACPA and other financial institutions, community groups, and religious organizations. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we will assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.

Regional working groups work to assist local IDA programs and other community-based programs to expand their current services to provide low and moderate wealth citizens in North Carolina access to no fee savings accounts through various local financial institutions. The combination of no fee savings accounts and encouragement through coaching and education will act as a catalyst to assist low-moderate wealth citizens in taking the first step to building assets and saving for the future.

How CPAs can get involved:

1. Enroll as a North Carolina Saver by going to the Treasurer’s website, www.treasurer.state.nc.us, and encourage others to enroll.

2. Volunteer as a wealth coach or a workshop presenter (or encourage others to volunteer). Some training is required, so please contact NCACPA Communications Coordinator Lorrie Leonhardt at lleonhardt@ncacpa.org for upcoming training sessions.

3. Join the regional working group in your area. This is the best way to ensure we are reaching communities across the state. NCACPA is represented on the statewide group, but most of the legwork is happening at the regional level. For contact information for the NC Saves coordinator in your area, please contact Lorrie Leonhardt at lleonhardt@ncacpa.org.

If you have any questions about the initiative, or would like to get your organization involved, please contact Lorrie Leonhardt at lleonhardt@ncacpa.org or Ellen Richardson with the NC Dept. of State Treasurer at (919) 508-5164 or ellen.richardson@treasurer.state.nc.us. For more information on the America Saves initiative, please visit their website at www.americasaves.org.