Bank Employees Across U.S. Celebrate 21st Annual Get Smart About Credit Day

WASHINGTON -

Bank employees across the country will celebrate the American Bankers Association Foundation's Get Smart About Credit campaign today and throughout the year by educating teens and young adults about a range of personal finance topics.

Get Smart About Credit Day, celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October, is one of three ABA Foundation youth financial education campaigns each year. The national program allows bank employees to share real-world financial knowledge with students and young adults on obstacles facing this demographic, including saving for the unexpected, managing money, paying for college, knowing their credit score, protecting their identity, and exploring careers in banking.

This year, nearly 10,500 banker volunteers have committed to providing these and other financial education materials to more than 73,500 students and young adults in their communities.

"We applaud bankers nationwide for continuing to step up to provide this essential education to their customers and communities year after year," said Lindsay Torrico, executive director, ABA Foundation. "Americans face many economic challenges today, but a better understanding of financial fundamentals can help ensure young people are prepared to tackle those challenges and work toward financial stability."

The ABA Foundation continues to update its 'Financial Firsts' programming, intended to help consumers up to 30 years old with financial decisions common in early adulthood, as a part of Get Smart About Credit. New this year are two lessons, "Paystub Showdown" and "Credit Score Savvy." Both are gamified lessons to maximize participant engagement and include a presenter's guide, train the trainer videos, PowerPoint presentations and printable activity worksheets, to make the lessons as turnkey as possible for banker volunteers.

Additionally, in anticipation of Get Smart About Credit Day, the ABA Foundation led a banker webinar on Oct. 9, titled "Creating Opportunities for Financial Stability," with a representative from FICO as a special guest. The webinar focused on strategies to better support bankers and community members in understanding the basics of building credit and opportunities for financial stability.

The ABA Foundation provides campaign resources including the lesson plans, in English and Spanish, program materials and real-time customer support entirely free to member and non-member banks to encourage industry participation.

For educators and community-focused organizations interested in scheduling banker-led financial education presentation, the ABA Foundation offers FinEdLink - a free online tool that matches schools and other groups with a local banker volunteer in their area.

Ally, Bank of America, Citi, Pathward, US Bank, Wells Fargo and Zions Bank are the sponsors of this year's Get Smart About Credit campaign. Their generous support allows the Foundation to provide the entire suite of resources for free to banks of all sizes.

Registered banks are featured on a list of participating banks on the ABA Foundation's website and in press materials. Any media outlet interested in covering a bank presentation in their community, should contact Blair Bernstein.

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About the American Bankers Association

The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation's $23.9 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ approximately 2.1 million people, safeguard $18.8 trillion in deposits and extend $12.5 trillion in loans.

About the ABA Foundation

Through its leadership, partnerships, and national programs, ABA's Community Engagement Foundation (dba ABA Foundation), a 501(c)3, helps bankers provide financial education to individuals at every age, elevate issues around affordable housing and community development, and achieve corporate social responsibility objectives to improve the well-being of their customers and their communities.

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