Kickstart How To & FAQs

How is my child’s privacy protected?

Desert Financial complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and takes children’s privacy seriously. We do not knowingly collect, use or disclose personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.

For more information on how Desert Financial protects the privacy of minors, see our Children’s Privacy Policy and COPPA Direct Notice to Parents.

Registration & Profiles

Does my child need their own Online Banking login?

Not necessarily. If you prefer your child not to have their own Online Banking login, you can manage certain Kickstart features on your child’s behalf through your own login.

Register a Parent/Guardian and Add a Child Profile

Use this when you’re setting up an online Kickstart profile for the first time.

Add a Child Profile

Use this when you want to add one or more children to Kickstart post registration.

Change Your Child’s Avatar (Parent or Child)

Change Your Child’s Linked Account (Parent or Child)

Remove a Child Profile from Kickstart

Important: This removes Kickstart access only. The child’s Online Banking access, checking account and debit card remain active. This will also delete any allowance transfers that have been set up.

Unregister from Kickstart

Important: Unregistering deletes your Kickstart profiles and activity and will delete any allowance transfers. Accounts remain open unless you close them separately.

What happens to our information if we unregister?

When you unregister, Kickstart data is deleted, including:

• Tasks/chores
• Money/loan requests
• Existing parent loans (even if payments were made)
• Allowance transfers

If you re-register later, you’ll set everything up again.

Accounts & Transfers

What accounts can I use with Kickstart?

Parents or guardians can use any of their Desert Financial deposit accounts to fund Kickstart transfers to the child.

Transfers can be made to the child’s Membership Savings account or their Kickstart Checking account, if they have one.

Can more than one parent or guardian be on a child’s account?

Yes. More than one adult (18 or older) can be added to a minor’s account as a joint owner, and each joint owner can register for and have full functionality of the Kickstart tool in Online Banking.

View Kickstart Transfers and Transactions

Kickstart activity appears in account history, transfer history, and statements.

Where You’ll See It

Account history: “Online Banking Transfer”

Transfer details: “Kickstart Allowance,” “Kickstart Grade Card Paid,” “Kickstart Transfer,” etc.

Statements: the same Kickstart labels appear

Transfer Money to Your Child

I transferred too much money. How do I move it back?

Change the Parent Funding Account Linked to Kickstart

Change Which Child Account Kickstart Uses

Why did I get an “insufficient funds” error?

If there aren’t enough available funds in the parent’s linked account, the transfer won’t complete and you’ll see an error.

Try: Using a different funding account or transferring funds into the linked account.

Chores/Tasks (Earn)

Assign a Chore/Task (Parent)

How Kids Complete a Task

Review and Approve Tasks (Parent)

Unassign/Delete/Edit/Reassign a Task (Parent)

I received a “task requires more work” notification. What does that mean?

This means the parent reviewed the task and indicated it isn’t complete yet. The child can finish the task and resubmit it for review.

Allowance

Set Up or Change Allowance (Parent)

Grades Rewards

Submit a Report Card (Child)

Review a Report Card Request (Parent)

Budgets & Savings Goals (Save)

Create or Update a Budget (Parent + Child)

Create a Savings Goal

Track or Update a Savings Goal

Trophies

How Kids Earn Trophies

Kids can earn trophies by completing activities such as:

• Making five loan payments on time
• Paying off a loan
• Reaching a savings goal
• Completing a monthly budget
• Completing five tasks
• Watching four educational videos

View Trophies and Progress

View Trophies

Money Requests

Request Money (Child)

Review a Money Request (Parent)

What is the difference between a money request and a loan request?

Money request: for smaller everyday needs; no repayment required; multiple requests allowed

Loan request: for larger purchases; repayment + interest over time; only one loan at a time

Parent Loans

How Parent Loans Work in Kickstart

Kickstart “loans” are not loans from Desert Financial. They are an educational tool between parent and child to practice borrowing, paying interest, and making payments on a schedule.

Parents control the loan terms and interest for future loans.

Request a Parent Loan (Child)

Review a Loan Request (Parent)

If approved, funds transfer to the child account.

Can I change the interest rate on an existing loan?

No. Interest can’t be changed on a loan that’s already approved.

You can set an interest rate for future loans.

To change future loan interest

1. Open Kickstart and select the child profile
2. Select More Options (⋮) → Loan Interest Rate
3. Choose a new rate → Submit and Confirm

If a pending request needs a new rate, deny it and ask your child to resubmit the request.

Can a parent loan be canceled after approval?

No. Once approved and funds are transferred, it can’t be canceled.

Can my child have more than one loan at a time?

No. The current loan must be paid off before requesting another.

Where does the interest go?

Interest is included in the child’s loan payments and deposited into the approving parent’s linked account as payments are made.

What if my child misses a loan payment?

The child can still make payments according to the schedule. If needed, the parent may:

• Transfer funds as a joint owner
• Make a payment from the child’s Kickstart profile using Make Loan Payment

Giving (Charity Navigator)

How Giving Works in Kickstart

The Give feature is powered by Charity Navigator and lists Arizona-based charities. Donations can be made as one-time or recurring.

Make a Donation

How do I confirm a donation was made?

If you used a Desert Financial account, it will appear on your statement as Giving Basket Donation.

Will parents be notified when a child donates?

No. Parents do not receive an approval request or notification for Give activity.

If you want visibility, set up account transaction alerts in Online Banking.

Questions About Charity Navigator?

See Charity Navigator’s FAQs: Charity Navigator FAQ Link

Common Issues & Contact

Who do I contact for help with Kickstart?

For help using or accessing Kickstart in Online Banking or the mobile app, please call (602) 433‑7000.

My child needs Online Banking access.

Visit a branch or call (602) 433‑7000.

I need help with Kickstart features.

Call (602) 433‑7000.