About K2C
How K2C Works
Kindergarten to College is both automatic and universal. When a student enters kindergarten in San Francisco Unified School District, K2C automatically opens a deposit-only savings account in the child’s name at Citibank with a starter deposit of $50 in each account. There is no paperwork to fill out, and the program does not use social security numbers. For some families, their account with K2C is their only formal bank account with a financial institution. Families with a K2C account can begin saving for post-secondary education immediately by choosing how to deposit from the following methods:
VISIT
Bring your ID and K2C account information to contribute, including cash, at any San Francisco Citibank branch.
By mail or bank, payable to your child’s name with their K2C account # in the memo section.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
Download a form to fill-in and give to your employer to make automatic deductions from your paycheck.
BILL PAY
Go to your local bank or credit union’s website to set up recurring BillPay or one-time payment.
Students and families can access additional incentive dollars by engaging with their accounts to view activity and save. Families also have the option to transfer funds into a qualified 529 account.
Check out K2C's info card overviewing the program in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Samoan and Tagalog.
Does K2C Work?
K2C set out to close the college enrollment gap between students from low-income families and their higher-income peers. K2C was inspired by research showing that savings for future education—even small amounts—can improve the odds that low- and moderate-income students will attend and complete college.
K2C is the first universal, opt-out children’s savings account (CSA) to see students all the way through from kindergarten to high school graduation. More than 2,800 graduates from the classes of 2023 and 2024 have used $1.4 million from their K2C accounts to help pay for college or vocational school.
Initial findings from the inaugural K2C cohort demonstrate that K2C significantly boosts students’ college enrollment and on-time high school graduation. Learn more about K2C’s impacts here.