The following article originally appeared in the 2010 Summer issue of Hometown Magazine.
Tucker Worrell isn’t your average Bronco member (even though there is no such thing as an “average” Bronco member—you’re all extraordinary!). In fact, Tucker represents a new generation of members who are getting a financial education early in life so they can be better prepared for a more prosperous future. The fact that he’s only three years old doesn’t seem to be slowing him down one bit.
Tucker’s early foray into the financial world is a product of lessons that were passed down from his grandmother, Nancy Allen, to his mother. “She encouraged us to start him on a savings plan and he’s been a Bronco member since he was six weeks old,” says Tucker’s mom, Whitney. “She keeps him during the day when he’s not in school, so she takes him over to the Bronco office frequently to deposit his money. He likes to go in there, make his deposits, get a bottle of water and play with the toys.” Tucker also enjoys attending Buzz Club events. “He goes to every one of them,” says Whitney. “He loves it.”
By getting Tucker into the habit of putting money away on a regular basis, he’s learning a pattern that will serve him well throughout his life. As his comprehension of finances increases, he’ll be able to more easily grasp the ideas of how to manage a checking account, the pluses and minuses of credit cards and the importance of having money stashed away for things like a college education.
“My mom always deposited money in our savings accounts when we were little so we could afford to go to college, and that’s how we were able to go,” says Whitney, who also became a Bronco member at a very early age. “I want Tucker to have the chance to go to college and I want us to be able to pay for it. I think education is just a great thing and you can’t get a job these days without a good education.”
Speaking of jobs, Whitney just joined the crew at our Stewart Drive office in Franklin as a teller. “When I was in college, I worked part-time at another financial institution and I really liked it,” she says. “I really enjoy helping people.” And even though she is truly fond of seeing other members face-to-face and helping them with their daily transactions, Whitney is hoping to eventually work her way up to the Accounting Department where she can put her college degree to work.
In the meantime, and in keeping with the family tradition (Tucker’s dad, Charles, is also a member), the newest addition to the Worrell family, three-month-old Reed, is also now a Bronco member. “Tucker just became a big brother,” says Whitney. “So I want him to be a good role model for his little brother and teach him how to save.”
Providing financial education to young people is one of our highest priorities as a financial institution. We’re proud to be associated with Tucker, Reed and all of our other young “ambassadors” who are helping to spread this important message.
