ANN ARBOR, Mich.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sparta, Mich.-based ChoiceOne Bank has helped customers save more than $500,000 with Plinqit, the only savings app of its kind that pays users for learning about personal finances.
Plinqit, developed by HT Mobile Apps, improves users’ financial literacy through its patent-pending Build Skills™. Users can take a quiz and be rewarded towards their savings goal. The app enables customers to securely link their Plinqit account to their checking account, set a savings goal and automatically set aside a small amount of money at a rate and schedule that they choose. This out-of-sight-out-of-mind savings helps users continue to save without temptation to withdraw before reaching their goal and the bank is seeing real results.
Since launching Plinqit, ChoiceOne Bank has grown total Plinqit users month-over-month, resulting in an average savings goal of $1,154 per account. After the bank offered a new feature allowing users to save towards multiple goals, it has seen users create emergency funds as well as vacation funds. In fact, many of ChoiceOne’s customers have already reached their initial goal, with the majority (nearly 80 percent) creating new goals to continue saving.
“Recent events have shown people the importance of savings for emergencies, and solidifies the value of Plinqit to our customers,” said Adom Greenland, Chief Operations Officer of ChoiceOne Bank. “We have had a significant amount of positive feedback. People are making a point to thank us for offering Plinqit and helping them save, which has truly been the most gratifying part of our partnership with HT Mobile Apps. While the numbers have been good, the impact on our community has been better.”
Greenland continued, “Part of the fun of Plinqit is you can share your goal with others so ultimately, it is not just helping our customers, it’s helping our community. The app is easy to use and makes finances fun. Times are tough, and people are in need of an easy way to start a financial safety net. It is very gratifying to have our partnership be a solution.”
“With Plinqit, financial institutions are able to make an impact on their account holders financial wellness by helping them make better financial decisions and learn about personal finances,” said Kathleen Craig, founder and Chief Executive Officer of HT Mobile Apps. “We are proud to partner with ChoiceOne Bank and look forward to seeing the success the bank and its consumers have had saving with the app continue.”
About Plinqit
Plinqit is a brandable, mobile first platform that is elegant and highly powerful at the same time. Unlike any other savings app on the market, its patent-pending Build Skills™ pays users for engaging with content, creating higher user engagement for financial institutions. Created by Millennials for Millennials, Plinqit helps financial institutions connect with this important demographic in a meaningful, relevant way - bringing together digital customers, FI’s and savings in one beautiful place. For more information, visit www.plinqit.com.
About ChoiceOne
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank, Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank operates 14 full-service offices in parts of Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Newaygo Counties. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. common stock is quoted on the OTC under the symbol “COFS.” For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne’s website at www.choiceone.com.
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