ST. PAUL, Minn.– The WINcentive Savings program has announced the final prizes awarded through the Minnesota statewide prize pool for 2021, including two grand prizes of $5,000 each, five $1,000 quarterly prizes, and 50 $100 monthly prizes.
According to the MnCUN, members from Affinity Plus FCU and Mid Minnesota FCU, were the lucky recipients of the annual grand prize drawings. Members from Fulda Area Credit Union, Minnco Credit Union and North Star Credit Union were among the program’s quarterly winners.
Affinity Plus employees of their Fergus Falls branch surprised two siblings, Jordin and Jacob, who each won a prize in the drawing – one of the annual grand prizes and one quarterly prize, the MnCUN reported, explaining Jordin helped Affinity Plus branch staff to surprise her brother with the grand prize check and was “beside herself” when she found out she also won $1,000.
‘This is Life Changing’
“You don’t understand where we come from; this is life changing," Jordin told Affinity Plus branch staff.
Participating members of all 21 Minnesota-based credit unions offering WINcentive were eligible for the monthly, quarterly and annual statewide prizes for 2021. Each credit union is also guaranteed to have one $100 winner each quarter.
According to the Minnesota CU Network, as of December 2021, nearly 8,500 members of credit unions in Minnesota had saved $12 million in WINcentive savings accounts throughout the state.
The association explained WINcentive Savings incentivizes consumers in to save by offering risk-free rewards. WINcentive prizes are awarded on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, with prizes ranging from $100 to $5,000. Account holders in Minnesota qualify for up to four chances per month for each $25 increase in their month over month savings balance.
Other States Participating
The Minnesota Credit Union Network and TruLync also administer prize-linked savings programs for credit unions in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Wisconsin. To date, the programs has provided more than 33,000 members throughout the nation the chance to win through prize-linked savings accounts, with nearly $70 million saved.
Prize-linked savings facilitated by TruLync have awarded over $1 million dollars to members of credit unions since its inception, the MnCUN added.