The bank's first branch and corporate headquarters will open at 2610 S. Jones Blvd. in late May. A second branch will open at 3919 Spring Mountain Road, in the Asian business district, several weeks later.

Both will be full-service branches.

"As the name implies, we are truly the first Asian-American community bank in the state. And the community is 250,000 strong and growing," Chu said. "We feel that there is a special niche we can fill for the community. We can speak the different Asian languages, understand the culture and provide excellent service to help the Asian community."

The bank has raised $13 million in capital.

It received approval to organize from the state in December and last month received Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. approval and state charter approval.

Chu said he hopes the bank will grow quickly, reaching $50 million in assets by the end of its first year and doubling the following year.

He said First Asian will consider opening additional branches in the second half of its first year of operation. Chu did not rule out eventual expansion into other parts of the state.

Both branches employ tellers who speak a variety of Asian languages in addition to English.

Chu said First Asian will focus on attracting small to mid-sized businesses with sales under $20 million.

"By working with them we can then work with their employees, the owners and a larger network of customers," Chu said. "We will also be able to provide a bridge for our non-Asian-American communities when they want to consider traveling or doing business in Asia. We can help coordinate those efforts."

Chu and Asian-American community leaders have heralded the organization of First Asian as a boon to the valley's growing Asian population.

"Our mission is many cultures, one goal," Chu said. "We want to serve as many cultures as we can the best way we know how and make sure we become successful and our customers become successful."

The pirate-themed campaign encourages kids to "Stash Your Cash @ the Credit Union."

CUNA said in a release that the campaign is designed to educate youth about the financial benefits of credit union membership and convince them to "begin saving their pirate booty" at the credit union.

The marketing is aimed at turning credit union kids into life-long members, returning later in life for checking accounts, credit cards, loans and mortgages.

CUNA is sponsoring its fourth annual National Youth Savings Challenge during Youth Week. Ten kids who sign up will win $100 for their savings accounts from CUNA.

Nevada Federal Credit Union is also getting in on the action by sponsoring its own promotion. For every deposit made by a youth account holder through April 27, the child will be entered into the Build Your Bucks Challenge. Then during National Credit Union Youth Week, five children will win miniportable music players.

"It is the first step to teaching them basic budgeting skills, how interest can make their deposits grow over time and the importance of saving sooner than later," NFCU said in a release.

For more information on NFCU's promotion, visit www.nevadafederal.org.

For more information on National Credit Union Youth Week, visit www.cuna.org.

Two-thirds of small-business owners polled said they use the Internet several times a week for business purposes, and 35 percent said the loss of the Internet would have a major impact on their business.

Eighteen percent said losing the Internet would actually put them out of business.

Business with revenue of $2 million or more reported more frequent use of the Internet for business than smaller businesses. Nearly 90 percent of owners of those larger businesses said they use the Internet three or more times a week. Most (86 percent) said they use it daily.

Only 67 percent of owners of smaller businesses say they use the technology three or more times a week and 57 percent daily.

Among popular uses of the Internet by small-business users are gathering information and industry advice (75 percent), online banking (58 percent), social networking for professional contacts (50 percent), advertising and marketing (45 percent) and payroll management (22 percent).

"The Internet provides an immediate and accessible set of information, resources and services for small-business owners," said Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, executive vice president and head of Wells Fargo's small business segment, in a statement. "In the financial services industry, technological innovations are making it possible for small-business owners to more easily manage their finances and obtain timely information online."

Forty-four percent of small-business owners said they have their own Web site.

The top three uses of company Web sites are advertising products and services (81 percent), soliciting customer feedback or queries (69 percent), and communicating with customers, suppliers and employees (68 percent).

Many small-business owners said they plan to purchase Wi-Fi technology, global positioning systems or hand-held scanners for inventory control during 2007.

The Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index is a quarterly survey of small-business owners.