ABA Foundation Launches 2023 Financial Education Campaigns, Three-Year Initiative to Reach 5 Million Americans

The American Bankers Association Foundation today launched its 2023 financial education campaigns, calling on America’s banks and their more than two million employees to participate in these important industry programs and help more consumers achieve long-term financial stability. It also announced a three-year industry-wide commitment to reaching five million Americans with financial education courses through its campaigns.

The ABA Foundation offers four national initiatives designed to equip banker volunteers with the tools necessary to share essential financial knowledge in their local communities. In 2022, more than 700 banks participated in one or more Foundation programs. This year, the Foundation will roll out new program resources and guidance centered around its theme of protecting your financial future. The 2023 programs aim to help consumers access pathways toward financial success by empowering youth to invest in their future, promoting awareness about scams targeting people of all ages and helping older Americans plan for financial caregiving. All of the Foundation programs are completely free to both ABA member and non-member banks. Those programs are: 

• Teach Children to Save
• Get Smart About Credit 
• Safe Banking for Seniors 
• Lights, Camera, Save! video contest

“By sharing financial education lessons with Americans both young and old, banks can help consumers build pathways toward a more secure and stable financial future,” said Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO. “That’s why we are encouraging banks across the country to participate in the ABA Foundation’s 2023 campaigns and help reach and educate 5 million Americans within three years.”

Teach Children to Save

The ABA Foundation’s signature initiative, Teach Children to Save, now in its 26th year, is a national campaign that encourages bankers to educate local K-8 students about money and real-world financial concepts through classroom presentations, virtual lessons, social media engagement and other outreach efforts. The ABA Foundation continues to bolster its program materials with versatile resources that can be leveraged for a range of learning environments. 

While Teach Children to Save Day is celebrated on April 27, bankers are encouraged to promote financial education throughout the year. 

Get Smart About Credit

Get Smart About Credit is a national program that helps bankers equip teens and young adults with personal finance knowledge and encourages the exploration of careers in banking. This year, the ABA Foundation will roll out new content on various scams targeting teens and young adults with tips on how to stay safe. Though the campaign is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October, bankers are encouraged to give presentations and spread awareness throughout the year.

Safe Banking for Seniors

In addition to its youth financial education initiatives, the ABA Foundation also offers a collection of resources, including workshop materials, videos, social media content, guides and handouts, to support elders and financial caregivers as a part of its Safe Banking for Seniors program. Safe Banking for Seniors, led by banker volunteers nationwide, helps older customers, their families and caregivers understand and mitigate the risks of fraud and financial exploitation.

Curricula for Teach Children to Save, Get Smart About Credit and Safe Banking for Seniors are available in both English and Spanish.

Lights, Camera, Save!

Lights, Camera, Save! is a national video contest that encourages teens to create a video up to 30 seconds long that demonstrates the importance of using money wisely, with a particular focus this year on protecting one’s financial future. The contest kicks off in August with individual banks hosting local competitions and is open to teen filmmakers of all experience levels. The national grand prize winners will be announced in November and are eligible to win up to $5,000. The public will help narrow the field of competitors via Instagram in the first round of national judging.

“Today, our communities face many challenges, including economic uncertainty and inequities,” said Lindsay Torrico, executive director, ABA Foundation. “Our year-round financial education campaigns, new consumer resources, and partnerships with community organizations and government agencies will allow us to help banks meet the moment and empower our industry to build thriving, equitable and resilient communities.”

Bankers can register for ABA Foundation programs for up to two years and receive turnkey resources, real-time customer support, ready-to-use promotional and communication materials. Again, there is no cost for banks that register to participate in any of the Foundation programs. Bankers interested in learning more about the Foundation programs are invited to join a free informational webinar on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. ET.

The ABA Foundation also offers a free web connection tool, FinEdLink, that can match community groups, senior centers, schools and other organizations with local bank volunteers willing to share financial education lessons. Groups interested in having a banker make a presentation can simply submit a free request at aba.com/FinEdLink to be paired with a local volunteer.

This year, the ABA Foundation’s financial education programming is generously sponsored by Ally, Bank of America, Citi, Chase, Truist, and Wells Fargo.

Interested banks can register at aba.com/FinEd or call 1-800-BANKERS for more information.