Phew… Summer has been packed with wonderful community events, and it’s been a pleasure to be part of them. As the season shifts, we’re looking forward to the new school year and starting to plan for fall. We’re eager to support financial literacy in local schools and find new ways to empower students with the money skills they need for a healthy future. Read along to hear more about where we’ve been, and what we’re working on this fall.
Breakwater and Portage Lake District Library hosted a two-part financial literacy workshop series for adults and teens this August. The workshops explored essential financial topics like budgeting, saving, establishing credit, and avoiding financial pitfalls.
From purchasing your first car to obtaining your first credit card, managing your finances takes a lot of responsibility. We enjoyed engaging with attendees and hearing more about the questions they have while navigating these adult financial responsibilities. The earlier you start building your financial knowledge, the stronger your foundation will be. We look forward to partnering with the library to offer more events like these in the future.
Pasty Fest is one of our favorite Copper Country traditions! From the Renaissance-themed events and costumes to the annual Pasty Bake Off, it truly is one-of-a-kind. This was our first year participating in Pasty Fest, and it did not disappoint!
We talked with hundreds, maybe even thousands of pasty-fueled people and challenged them to a fun pasty-themed financial challenge. Each person who stopped at our booth had the chance to spin our Pasty Prize Wheel. Each space on the wheel featured a pasty ingredient, condiment, or pasty. The spinner then had to guess the cost of ingredients in 1898 versus today! The prices were based off a grocery ad that was published in The Calumet Times in 1898 and Walmart prices today. Participants then had a chance to pull a sticker from our sticker bucket. Some stickers were labeled as winners and those lucky attendees walked away with a gift card for a local pasty shop.
This fun pasty challenge was eye-opening and sparked great conversations about how prices have changed over time. It was a fun way to combine financial literacy with our love of pasties!
We also had a Team Ketchup vs. Team Gravy board where folks could vote on their condiment of choice. While those two toppings were the main contenders, our community added some creative write-ins, including Sour Cream, Homemade Salsa, Chow-Chow, Mustard, and Plain.
We had an absolute blast celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives during our Co-op Pop-up this August. Keweenaw Co+op treated everyone to delicious dark chocolate covered cherries from the bulk section as samples, and we brought our Prize Wheel and a variety of fun giveaway items!
Cooperatives stand out by putting people before profit and investing in the well-being of their communities. Because they are owned by their members, decisions are made locally for the benefit of all. We are proud to celebrate the cooperative difference alongside Keweenaw Co+op this year.
Join us on October 16 for a collaborative Lunch & Learn covering how cooperatives work and what they mean for members.
Breakwater is excited to announce that we will have a team at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Premier Golf Outing on Wednesday, September 4th. Not only that, but we will also be the hosting Hole #5. Swing by to chat with our team and pick up some Breakwater goodies!
There’s no way we could miss out on Calumet’s 150th Anniversary! Join us on Saturday, September 13, as we celebrate Calumet’s rich history with live music, vendors, games, free ice cream, great food and drinks, and a fireworks finale. Breakwater will be set up on the 300 Block of 6th Street with fun giveaways and trivia. Stop by and say hello!
The squeak of sneakers in the hallway. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils. The thrill of opening a brand-new box of crayons.
Back-to-school season is filled with excitement, fresh starts, and endless possibilities. It’s also offers an opportunity for kids, teens, and young adults to learn valuable budgeting skills that will last a lifetime. Whether planning for school supplies, saving for a big field trip, or exploring resources to help your college freshman manage money, developing good habits now sets the stage for future financial confidence.
In our Back-to-School Budgeting Guide, you’ll find practical tips to help your family start the school year on the right foot—from simple ways to track expenses to age-appropriate money lessons you can introduce at home.
Start the new school year off on the right foot with our Back-to-School Budgeting Guide!
Let's Go!Now that parade season has come to an end, we are looking to rehome the stuffed pigs from our Charlotte’s Web of Savings float! Youth who open a Breakwater account or make a deposit into their account will be entered to win one of two pigs and a copy of E.B White’s beloved story book, Charlotte’s Web.
All youth members who visit us this month will receive a free piggy bank to take home. Encourage your children to visit us this September and start saving with Breakwater!
Breakwater is dedicated to giving back to the community each month. This month, we were able to support Calumet’s 150th Anniversary Celebration, Visit Keweenaw’s GLAD Jam, The Bluffs Fundraising Bingo Night, and the Copper Country Humane Society.
To make an even bigger impact for the Humane Society, we’re hosting a supply drive at Breakwater! Stop by our lobby during business hours through August 25- September 5 to drop off much-needed items like paper towels, bleach, laundry detergent, and pet food.
Together, we can help provide comfort and care to animals waiting for their forever homes. Thank you for helping us support this incredible local organization!
Our Breakwater team set a goal to give back at least 168 hours to our community this year. We’re excited to share that we’ve already made it over 70% of the way towards reaching that goal.
If you know of a local organization or event that could use a few extra helping hands, we’d love to hear from you.
Please email our Marketing & Community Relations Coordinator, Kayleigh.White@breakwaterfcu.org with details about volunteer opportunities.
Because life is better when we do good together!
Breakwater Federal Credit Union will be closed Monday, September 1, 2025, in observation of Labor Day. We will reopen for regular business hours on September 2. While our lobby may be closed, you can still access your account and perform banking transactions using our online and mobile banking options. Thank you and have a safe and happy holiday.
At Breakwater Federal Credit Union, we believe it’s never too early to start learning smart money habits. One of the best ways to teach kids and teens about long-term saving is through a youth share certificate—a safe, reliable way to grow their savings while learning how interest works.
A share certificate is similar to a certificate of deposit (CD) at other financial institutions. It allows you to lock in a fixed interest rate for a set period of time, giving your money the chance to grow steadily without risk.
Why Should Youth Open a Share Certificate?
For kids and teens, this is more than just an account—it’s a powerful financial education tool. By opening a share certificate, young members can:
Youth ages 0–17 can open their first share certificate at Breakwater with as little as $125. Stop by Breakwater FCU or give us a call to get started.
Fraud and scams are on the rise, and scammers are finding new ways to trick people every day. Right now, gift card scams are one of the most common tactics we’re seeing.
At Breakwater Federal Credit Union, our mission is to help you protect your hard-earned money and personal information. Here’s what you need to know:
How Gift Card Scams Work
Scammers may contact you by phone, email, text, or even social media. They often:
Once they have those numbers, the funds are gone—and they cannot be recovered.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious if someone:
How to Protect Yourself
A few simple steps can help safeguard your finances:
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