Credit Unions Offer Combination Savings Account And Lottery Ticket Option

In his show notes, Clark Howard describes a program that Michigan credit unions have set up that combines a savings account with a lottery. Contributions to their savings accounts give members a chance to win a cash bonus each month and once a year. All of the contributions go toward the savings. The theory is that it will encourage saving. One issue that Clark doesn't mention is that to pay for the bonuses, the accounts will likely have to pay no or very little interest. So savers have to give up some guaranteed interest for a small chance of a big payout.