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.
2013 MBA Financial Literacy Awards
New this Year! The MBA Financial Literacy Program has gone statewide. Banks have been divided into three categories throughout the state based on asset class and submitted their entries. The winners will be announced and receive their awards at the MBA BEST Conference, April 24-26, 2013 in Traverse City. Please stay tuned for further announcements.
EverFi-The Financial Literacy Platform 
EverFi is the leading education technology platform to teach, assess, and certify students in critical skills including Financial Literacy, Student Loan Management, Digital Literacy, Substance Abuse, and additional product areas to be announced in 2011. The company is already powering a national movement in 50 states that enables students to learn using the latest technology, including rich media, high-definition video, diagrams and avatars. EverFi’s current products include The EverFi Financial Literacy Platform™, Buttonwood™ for Student Loan Management, AlcoholEdu®, and the Ignition™ Digital Literacy Platform.
EverFi is building an entirely new framework to finance and deliver content, technology and innovation into schools. The company boasts an integrated network of thousands of schools across the country that will incorporate the EverFi learning platform into their curriculum each year. EverFi teams with major corporations and foundations to provide the programs at no cost to the schools. The company is adding over 200 new K-12 schools and colleges per month onto the platform and over 3 million students have completed EverFi's technology courses. For more information visit http://www.everfi.com/ or contact Lara Loveman at (202) 656-7540.
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.
2012 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, explaining the mortgage process from beginning to end, talked about the importance of credit scores and conducted mock interviews. President and CEO, Susan Eno, addressed a local Rotary about the state of community banking and the importance of supporting local banks.
Isabella Bank reached more than 2,500 individuals through their financial literacy efforts. Employees taught lessons to local schools and classrooms with their participation in the “Teach Children to Save” program, junior achievement classes, bank tours and by holding a job shadow day for local elementary school children. Financial literacy booklets and tools were distributed to elementary and high school students. Employees also sat on a Central Michigan University panel for business students.
Northstar Bank reached more than 1,000 individuals through their financial literacy efforts. Bank employees taught high school students about budgeting, investment options, future planning, the basics of credit reports and loans, and about checking accounts. The bank also spoke with students with their participation on the national “Teach Children to Save Day.”
County National Bank reached more than 1,300 individuals through their financial literacy efforts. The bank was present at a local college fair, Senior Picnic and Elder Abuse Expo, and the Start it Up! Entrepreneurial Expo. At these events, the bank handed out information on identity theft, get smart about credit, loan programs and trust services. The bank also visited local elementary schools for the Get Smart About Credit, Teach Children to Save Day and Junior Achievement programs, where they presented topics 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.
Crestmark Bank participated in the annual Teach Children to Save Day. They went on classroom visits to reach out and teach elementary school children the benefits of saving money.
Make sure to send your bank's financial literacy stories and photos to Amy McCaffrey.