From Idea to Impact: Financial Plus Credit Union Launches Youth Certificate Inspired by Employee Innovation

​What began as an idea from Financial Plus Credit Union’s Senior Project Manager, Jordin Haskin, has grown into a fully realized product now available to members. After earning first place at the Crossroads Chapter level of the Michigan Credit Union League’s (MCUL) CU Spark Tank competition, Haskin’s innovative concept for a Youth Certificate, designed to help families save for their children’s future dreams, launched at Financial Plus on October 1, 2025.

Haskin’s inspiration came from her own experience as a parent. “I wanted to start saving for my kids, Lily and Landon, but not just for college,” she said. “What if their dreams take them down a different path? I don’t want to limit their possibilities before they even have a chance to discover their passions.”

This personal insight sparked a solution now available to all Financial Plus members and those looking to become a member. The Youth Certificate offers a 4.00% APY on a 12-month term for members 24 and under, with no minimum balance required. Members can add funds at any time and make a one-time withdrawal without penalty, giving families the flexibility to save for whatever their child’s future may hold.

“Jordin’s journey from concept to product launch demonstrates the power of creating a culture that empowers employees to innovate and shape the member experience,” said DeAnna Wallace, Chief Human Resources Officer and SVP of Member Experience. “Her idea has become a solution that directly benefits our youngest members and their families.”

The CU Spark Tank competition hosted by the MCUL celebrates the next generation of leaders in the credit union movement, and for Haskin, it became the catalyst for real-world impact. Presenting her Youth Certificate concept, Haskin advanced to the semi-finals at the League’s Annual Convention and Exposition in Grand Rapids this summer.

“What began as a simple idea to help my own family has grown into a product that will help other families save for their

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