Financial Literacy
If members are involved in a financial literacy program (that can be utilized by other bankers) which is not listed on the page, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it about adding your program to this page.
The Fi Report by EverFi 
Local Winner for Wolverine Bank, Andrew Dyke, Wins Second Place in National Video Contest
Wolverine Bank put a call out to local children ages 13 –16 to enter the ABA’s Lights, Camera, Save! video contest. Andrew Dyke (age 13) of Midland answered that call by submitting his video entry, “Save Me!” The video follows a dollar bill on its journey to being saved. Andrew, an eighth grade student at Northeast Middle School has a goal of becoming an aerial cinematographer. He has participated in many educational camps such as MCTV and MSU summer video camps, which have helped develop his cinematography skills.
As the local winner for Wolverine Bank, Dyke received a $100 savings bond, and his video was submitted to ABA for further competition. Dyke was one of eight national finalists in the contest. His prize winning video was evaluated on creativity, content and message. Dyke will receive a $1,500 savings bond from the ABA.
Chec Close k out the eight finalist videos online at www.youtube.com/TeachChildrentoSave.
FDIC Releases the Money Smart Financial Education Curriculum
The FDIC announced the release of an enhanced version of its instructor-led Money Smart financial education curriculum for adults.
The enhanced curriculum incorporates changes in the law and industry practices that have occurred since Money Smart was revised in 2006. For example, the curriculum reflects recent amendments to the rules pertaining to credit cards as well as the new overdraft opt-in rule. A new module, Financial Recovery, provides an overview of the steps consumers can take to rebuild their finances after a financial setback.
To learn more about the FDIC's Money Smart program and to obtain free copies of the curriculum, visit the Money Smart page on the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/moneysmart.
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
CEDAM is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization established in 1998. It is a voluntary association of community development corporations (CDCs), individuals and other organizations interested in promoting and expanding community-based housing and economic developments across the state of Michigan. CEDAM also assists with the Bank On Program that helps unbanked families improve their financial well-being. For more information, click here. You can also visit www.CEDAM.info for more information or call Ross Yednock at 517-485-3588.
SeniorBrigade: a Michigan Seniors Initiative
The elderly are frequently targets of unscrupulous scam artists that prey upon this segment of our population. A free on-site seminar program has been developed to further enhance the awareness of Michigan's seniors and their families on scams. More information is available at www.seniorbrigade.com.
2011 MBA Financial Literacy Award Winners
- Citizens National Bank’s employees gave a tour of the bank to elementary students and day care centers. They were shown all departments from bookkeeping to processing to lending and being a teller. Bank employees also worked with local area high school students covering how to construct a business plan and explaining the mortgage process from beginning to end.
- Independent Bank reached more than 20,000 individuals through their financial literacy efforts. The bank educated students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Bank employees also hosted an all-day event for high school seniors covering planning for the future, balancing a checking account, budgeting, borrowing money, protecting yourself from identity theft and working in the financial industry.
- Chemical Bank reached more than 8,800 individuals through their financial literacy efforts. The bank offered seminars on budgeting and identifying spending habits, how to use a credit card to establish credit and other financial topics. The bank also offered presentations to elementary schools on how a community works, why people have to work and how a business works. They also learned about work concepts, coin recognition and the importance of saving.
- Thumb National Bank & Trust Company gave presentations to high school students on checking accounts, savings accounts, loans and to prepare them for graduation. The bank discussed all the products that are offered through the bank, reviewed credit reports and how they work and the importance of having a good credit score. The bank worked with Boy Scouts of America earning their Personal Management Merit Badge. The scouts learned numerous financial skills starting with managing their money, setting short-term and long-term financial goals, being a smart shopper and using various bank accounts.
- County National Bank reached more than 2,200 individuals through their financial literacy efforts. The bank held several seminars for adults on topics such as foreclosure prevention, elder abuse and neglect and identity theft prevention. The bank also visited local elementary schools and presented portions of the Get Smart About Credit program and spoke on financial planning, scams and identity theft prevention, mortgages and credit. Students were also given a tour of the bank and learned about earning money, spending and saving money and security.
Make sure to send your bank's financial literacy stories and photos to Amy McCaffrey.