ABA Foundation helps bankers make their communities better through financial education. The Foundation holds two banker-driven, youth financial education programs, Teach Children to Save and Get Smart About Credit, and also hosts the annual Lights, Camera, Save! teen video contest.
Teach Children to Save raises awareness about the important role that banks and bankers play in helping young people develop lifelong savings habits. Bankers trade in their balance sheets for blackboards and teach students personal finance skills through activities, interactive scenarios and sharing real-life experiences. The program is celebrated throughout the calendar year, with an annual day on a designed Friday during Financial Literacy Month.
Lights, Camera, Save! is a video contest that encourages young people to use the power of video to communicate to peers and others the value of wise saving and spending habits. Students may enter the contest each October and November by submitting up to a 90-second video to a local participating bank.
Get Smart About Credit helps bankers teach young adults the ABCs of wise credit use. Bankers go into classrooms, connect with youth groups and visit college campuses to help young people learn how to budget, use credit responsibly and build a positive payment history. Get Smart About Credit can take place at any time during the calendar year, with the annual day held on the third Thursday in October.