Financial Literacy

The need for financial education is greater than ever, and recognition of this fact continues to gain public attention at the local, state and national levels. Bankers are experts at money management, so it's a natural fit for them to be involved in consumer education programs. Bankers are taking the lead in communities nationwide with financial literacy programs aimed at small children, high school students, adults, senior citizens and persons with limited access to financial services, including recent immigrants and low-to moderate income residents.

Money Smart Week® - April 21-28, 2012

Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations across multiple states including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media. These groups come together once a year to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers about where they can get help and provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. Programming is offered to all demographics and income levels and covers all facets of personal finance from establishing a budget to first time home buying to estate planning.

What is a Money Smart Partner?
A Money Smart partner is an organization that has registered on the website and actively participates in Money Smart. Organizations are considered partners upon agreeing to one or more of the following:

• Provide educational materials, instructors, or a seminar for consumers
• Provide facilities to host events, sponsor events or promotional materials
• Leverage resources to publicly support or endorse Money Smart Week

Partners are expected to provide leadership, communicate internally and externally, possess or acquire general financial literacy knowledge and be committed to the Money Smart Week program. Current partners include businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies, business alliances and the media.

What kinds of events are planned?
Last year our partners put on in-person workshops, financial forums and online webinars. Topics included basic banking, building & managing credit, retirement planning and more. The audience included kids, parents and seniors all over the state of Oregon. In addition to the events we had last year, we're hoping for unique events as well. Partners in other states have produced continuing education courses, helped families with a financial makeover, organized flash mobs, held financial games at local schools, created public service announcements with local celebrities and more. Get creative!

Building on the success of last year!
In 2011, Oregon's first ever Money Smart Week, we educated hundreds of people in dozens of events around the state. Take the first step and join us today by registering online at moneysmartweek.org/oregon!

National Teach Children to Save Day - April 24, 2012

It's never too early, or too late, to teach kids the skills they need to budget, save and manage money. Without financial education, young people will learn about money from the school of hard knocks. That's why the American Bankers Association's Education Foundation created the Teach Children to Save program and why bankers across the country speak to students and community groups year-round about the financial facts of life.

On National Teach Children to Save Day thousands of bankers across the nation and here in Oregon connect with kids in classrooms and after school programs to share "real life" lessons about money. These efforts help young people take an important first step in mastering their financial ABCs - - learning how to save.

Get Smart About Credit Day - October 18, 2012

Credit is an important financial tool for most Americans. It helps people purchase dreams like a home or a college education, and can lend a hand in an emergency. The choices people make about how to use their first credit card, or handle their first loan, can change their life for years to come.

That's why bankers are going into high school classrooms, connecting with youth groups, and visiting college campuses across America on Get Smart About Credit Day - October 21, 2010. During this event, bankers will help young people get smart about credit now, so they can make smart financial choices later.