In a push to strengthen member relationships, two Twin Citiescredit unions are now offering savings-linked ATM-debit accountsthat automatically rounds up differences on purchases.

In separate promotions starting this spring, the $1.3 billionAffinity Plus FCU of St. Paul started “Stash Your Cash,” while the$277 million TopLine FCU of Maple Grove offered “Sum-It-Up” savingstransfers.

Just a week after the launch, TopLine said it opened 40 of theaccounts and Affinity Plus said it had 300 after its account debutin early May.

AffinityPlus said its program was geared to “help our members achievetheir savings goals even when money may be tight.”

Harry Carter, president/CEO of TopLine, said a major objectiveof the program is to help build relationships with the accountrepresenting a means to make savings “completely painless.”

In a formal statement, Carter said “members can build anemergency reserve, create a child's savings or holiday spendingaccount or even sock dollars away in a mad money fund.”

Nic Peterson, vice president of member innovation at AffinityPlus, said the savings transfer idea has been utilized for somemonths by large banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo,“but we haven't seen it among credit unions.”