Individual Development Accounts
Account holders take money management, credit counseling and asset training classes while saving to buy a first home, start a small business, or pay for postsecondary education. IDAs make it easier for low- and moderate-income individuals and families to build the financial assets that they need to achieve the American Dream.
How IDAs work
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are special savings accounts—held in escrow—that match the deposits of low- and moderate-income people. For every dollar saved in an IDA, savers receive a corresponding match which serves as both a reward and an incentive to further the saving habit. Savers agree to complete financial education classes and use their savings for an asset-building purpose – typically for post-secondary education or job training, home purchase, or to capitalize a small business. In addition to earning match dollars and interest on their savings savers learn about budgeting, saving and receive additional training before purchasing an asset. IDAs make it possible for individuals to build the financial assets they need to achieve the American dream.
To IDA savers CAAB provides financial education classes, and requires additional training based on the participant’s asset choice: homeownership education and counseling, small business training, or guidance on choosing and enrolling in post-secondary education.
CAAB’s IDA program can be as short as six months or as long as 3 years from beginning to end. IDA participants are allowed to withdraw money as soon as they save 6 months consecutively have reached their savings goal, but they must first get approval from CAAB.
For further information on CAAB’s IDAs, please contact our Matched Savings Program team by sending an email message toidapurchases@caab.org.
