Make a Payment Rates About Careers Contact Locations

Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy

Women earn 76 percent of what men earn, resulting in an average lifetime differential of $250,000, according to a recent report. Shocking statistics like this underscore why women must advocate for themselves and make smart, informed decisions, especially when it comes to finances.At Summit, we believe that in order to build women’s confidence and financial literacy, we have to be comfortable talking about money. To get that conversation going, we’re encouraging women to:  Ask QuestionsTo help women build their financial literacy, we decided to embark on an entirely new type of project that would address these exact concerns: a TV commercial centered on common money questions, acknowledging financial mistakes and building financial confidence. To stay true to our core audience, the cast and crew were primarily female, while we also worked with a female director – something surprisingly rare in the industry.While remaining inclusive, we placed an underlying emphasis on women. Having questions is human; we’ve all been there. So why are people – especially women – so reluctant to talk about money?Our thinking was that if we could start a conversation about money management and, honestly, mismanagement, we could shed light on how people can use financial education as a tool to become more comfortable and confident when managing their money – including asking questions.Speak Up About MoneyThere are certainly some common questions that are difficult for people to talk about openly. For instance, the majority of the collective population lives paycheck to paycheck, but this is something women are extremely reluctant to admit. We can help women figure out how to stop living paycheck to paycheck, but in order to start that conversation, we need to get more comfortable talking openly about money management challenges.Another example: women are hesitant to ask questions about investments. CNN reported last year that just 43 percent of women said they were confident in their investments compared to 56 percent of men. Additionally, one-fourth of women surveyed said they were on track to save for retirement compared to one-third of men. And when you look at investment ads, you’ll see male after male after male. So, it’s clear there isn’t a collective effort to encourage women to talk about investments, let alone think they could be great at investing.Knowing these subjects can heighten vulnerability, it was very important to our team to encourage women to speak up about the challenges they’re facing, and then help connect them with educational resources that can empower them to be more confident.Lift Each Other UpWe should all do as much as we can to ensure women have a seat at the table and remind them that their opinions are truly valued. As our talented and dynamic TV director Judy Starkman put it, “Female empowerment is about equality and being treated with respect. If there’s ever been a moment, now is the moment for us to be heard.”When it comes down to it, empowered women empower women and, therefore, getting more women into higher positions is crucial. Women need to lift each other up and inspire one another.We need to give women opportunities to showcase their talents and help propel other women into leadership roles. Men play a key role in this, too. They need to advocate for and support women just as much as women do for fellow women.Dream BigWe implore women who are just beginning their careers to simply go for it. Speak up. Dream big. You can do it! Our goal is to assure every woman that it’s OK not to know all the answers right away. However, through confidence and planning she can get on track with her goals and achieve the life she wants. An empowered attitude and confident perspective apply to any woman, in any scenario, in any industry.Both on and off camera, we’re empowering women to own it in their financial lives and helping them realize their full potential personally, professionally and financially. You might also be interested in Q: Our daughter was just born. What should we be thinking about financially? A: Your question around what to think about money-wise shows great parental... Power of attorney (POA) certainly sounds like fancy paperwork jargon that no one has time to learn about. We know. However, as you start getting a little... Caring for your furry friends can add up! Learn how to manage the costs of owning a pet & unwanted expenses without compromising on quality for your animal... As you prepare for this new chapter of your life as a parent, make sure you are saving to cover the costs of having a baby with our financial planning... Worries about health care costs keeping you up at night? A health savings plan could make a difference. Health care can cost a lot of money. Find yourself... Women earn 76 percent of what men earn, resulting in an average lifetime differential of $250,000, according to a recent report. Shocking statistics like... You want to take care of the people you love. One of the most important ways you can do that? By taking the time to deal with end-of-life issues. We know... It’s no secret that a wedding is one of the most expensive moments in our lives. According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the United States... Remember how exciting the holidays were when you were a kid? It always felt like there was a little bit of magic in the air as you made cookies, decorated...
Featured Products Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Financial Education Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts About Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Help & Support Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch
Please read the following before proceeding to: The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site.
NCUA Insurance Estimator Privacy, Security & Accessibility Rates Terms and Fees Routing Number
* The Wisconsin's #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on the number of loans in 2023, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the LEI: 254900NTAC4H10MGSU23 ** SBA Lender of the Year Award for Credit Unions as awarded by the Small Business Administration of Wisconsin in 2024. Copyright 2025 © Summit Credit Union. All rights reserved. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 608-243-5000 for assistance. Insured by NCUA