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It took us a little while to catch this, but Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has for low-income earners affected by the financial crisis that includes a matched savings component.

 

The matched savings program is an extension of , which was developed by ANZ Bank and the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence in order to help those on low incomes establish a long-term savings habit. The participants set a savings goal, and receive financial education and other support in reaching the goal. Once the goal has been reached, ANZ matched their savings dollar-for-dollar, up to $500.

 

$4.5 million will be allocated to the extension of SaverPlus, reaching an additional 7,600 participants in 60 communities.

 

The Asset Building Program, along with the , have been involved in advancing matched savings policies and programs both in the U.S. and abroad. Here’s a sampling:

 

, a federal policy proposal put forward by the ¹ú²úÊÓƵ Foundation that would provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to a total of $500 in matching funds for low- and moderate-income tax filers who save a portion of their tax refunds

2-pager Saver’s Bonus (federal proposal)

 

—on matched savings in the developing world, with a focus on the World Council of Credit Unions’ model in Veracruz, Mexico.

 

We’ve also written quite a bit on children’s savings account proposals that likewise call for a match component (see our most recent policy paper), and the Global Assets Project is currently involved in the planning of a .