Saginaw, MI — December 2025 — United Financial Credit Union announced the launch of its new Youth Banking platform, powered by Nuuvia, the leading provider of intelligent lifecycle banking solutions. The platform is designed to help young members learn healthy money habits, set savings goals, and build lifelong financial confidence through an engaging digital experience.
Available now to United Financial Credit Union members, SmartStart introduces an innovative way for families to start financial conversations early. The program combines real-world banking features with educational tools and gamified rewards to make money management fun, interactive, and age appropriate.
“At United Financial Credit Union, we believe financial confidence starts early,” said Jessica Gwizdala, VP of Marketing. “By launching Nuuvia’s Youth Banking platform, which we are calling SmartStart, we’re giving parents and kids a meaningful way to learn, save, and grow together. This initiative supports our mission to invest in the future of our community — one family at a time.”
Nuuvia’s Youth Banking solution, SmartStart, integrates seamlessly with United Financial CU’s existing digital banking platform, providing a safe and secure experience for both parents and youth users. The program includes customizable savings goals, parental oversight tools, and milestone-based achievements that encourage positive financial behaviors from an early age.
“This launch reflects our commitment to helping the next generation build a strong financial foundation that will serve them throughout their life,” said Marcell King, COO and President of Nuuvia. “We’re proud to see United Financial Credit Union leading the way in delivering innovative financial solutions that make financial learning engaging and accessible for families.”
The launch of the Youth Banking program reinforces United Financial Credit Union’s commitment to supporting the financial well-being of its community through innovation, education, and empowerment. This initiative was made possible in part through a grant from the Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF), whose support helps credit unions deliver innovative programs that promote financial education and community enrichment.
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The Youth Banking platform, SmartStart delivers a modern, mobile-first experience, uniquely designed for Gen Z and youth account-holders and their parents. Features include:
- Financial education and gamification
- Financial rewards for tasks, grades and allowances
- Spending account with debit card and parental controls
- Saving and budgeting tools with progress tracking
- Parental loans and repayment tools
To learn more, visit www.unitedfinancialcu.org/smartstart
About United Financial Credit Union
United Financial Credit Union is a NCUA-insured credit union, with a commitment to innovation, member-focused services, and community empowerment, United Financial is proud to offer a range of financial products designed to meet the evolving needs of its members. We are happy to offer membership to anyone that lives, works, worships or attends school within any county in the State of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
To learn more, visit www.unitedfinancialcu.org.
About Nuuvia
Nuuvia, formerly known as Incent, is the leading provider of intelligent lifecycle banking solutions for community banks and credit unions. Designed to easily integrate with an institution’s existing digital banking infrastructure, Nuuvia helps financial institutions acquire, retain, and more effectively engage account holders across multiple generations. Nuuvia’s flagship Youth Banking platform empowers financial institutions to educate, inspire, and grow lifelong customers through personalized branded, co-branded and fully white-labeled digital experiences.
Learn more at nuuvia.com.
About Michigan Credit Union Foundation
The Michigan Credit Union Foundation’s (MCUF) mission is to cooperatively empower credit unions to increase financial well-being by supporting community enrichment, financial education, and credit union development initiatives. MCUF is funded entirely by cooperative donations from credit unions and credit union system supporters. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation, MCUF is dedicated to helping boost the credit union difference in Michigan.
Learn more at MCUF.mcul.org.