(LAKE SUCCESS, NY- Oct. 4, 2011) Astoria Federal Savings invites teens, ages 13 to 18, to enter the 2nd annual "Lights, Camera, Save!" video contest, which takes place through October to promote good saving habits. Created by the American Bankers Association, the contest encourages teens to demonstrate the value of saving money, while showcasing their technical skills and creativity behind the camera.
"This is a fun way to involve teenagers in promoting good saving habits. Last year, we decided to incorporate the video contest into our annual Teach Children to Save program, and we were very impressed with the creative videos they produced," said Astoria Federal Savings Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards.
In the 2010 contest, Huntington High School student Thomas Boisclair was selected as Astoria Federal Savings' local winner and went on to be selected as a finalist at the national level. His video, which demonstrated "a recipe for saving" and was shot in the kitchen of his Huntington home, presented a step-by-step approach to managing money.
"We know from this contest as well as our annual Teen Photo Contest that there are many talented teens out there. We look forward to seeing their videos, and the way that this year's entries visually express their thoughts on saving," Edwards said.
To participate, students aged 13-18 (as of Oct. 1, 2011) can stop by any Astoria Federal Savings Branch -- in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester -- for an entry form and contest details. Videos must be under 90 seconds in length and submitted by Nov. 1. Astoria Federal Savings will judge the entries it receives and submit one winning video to compete at the national level for a chance at a $3,000, $1,500 or $500 U.S. Savings Bond.
The Teach Children to Save program is a national campaign that seeks to educate young people about the importance of developing lifelong savings habits. Since 1997, the campaign has reached more than 4 million young people nationally. Astoria Federal has had a positive impact on thousands of young people locally, through its Education First programs including the annual Teach Children to Save celebration and essay contest, Kids Tools for School supply collection drive, and Bank at School and Student Savers programs.
For additional information about the contest, please call 1-800-ASTORIA or visit www.astoriafederal.com.
Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $17.1 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association. Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $11.2 billion, is the largest thrift depository in New York and embraces its philosophy of "Putting people first" by providing the customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 85 convenient banking office locations and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, www.astoriafederal.com. Astoria Federal commands the fourth largest deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states. Astoria Federal originates mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, an extensive broker network covering fourteen states, primarily along the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering fifteen states and the District of Columbia.