American Eagle Financial Credit Union Makes Award-Winning Financial Literacy Program Free to Local Classrooms

Originally posted on courant.com

American Eagle Financial Credit Union is working with Banzai, a national, award-winning financial literacy program, to make curriculum available to over 600 students in eight local schools at no charge. Schools signed up to date are: (The Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield, The Learning Center in Cromwell, Pathways to Technology Magnet School and East Hartford High School in East Hartford, Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, Illing Middle School in Manchester, Mercy High School in Middletown, and Southington High School in Southington).

Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Students set up their own accounts, and work through assignments that are based on real life financial situations. Due to the fact that American Eagle Financial Credit Union is sponsoring this wonderful program, local schools get it for free. “Now more than ever, it’s important that kids develop sound financial skills to prepare them for the real world, and American Eagle Financial Credit Union realizes that, so they’re doing something about it”, said Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai.

Banzai is an interactive, online program, supplemented by printed workbooks, which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 19,000 teachers and available in all 50 states.

“Youth education with an emphasis on personal finance is an important area that the Credit Union is committed to improving throughout towns we serve. Our partnership with Banzai will allow us to continue that commitment in the digital age,” said Brian Kennedy, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer.

American Eagle Financial Credit Union has offered time, money, industry experience, and a variety of credit union resources to help local schools teach personal finance in the classroom. Students using the program are exposed to real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills and balance a budget–but it’s not always easy. Students must learn to manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges, and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs, savings, and more.

“Too often students get out of school and they just aren’t ready for the financial roller coasters life can give us,” Vandagriff said. “Banzai teaches students to navigate those twists and turns and come out on top. We’re excited to work with American Eagle Financial Credit Union to improve financial literacy in local schools.”

Teachers interested in using the Banzai program can visit: www.americaneagle.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.

About American Eagle Financial Credit Union
American Eagle Financial Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in East Hartford, CT. It is Connecticut’s largest community credit union with 113,000 members and $1.4 billion in assets. It provides financial services to the residents and business in Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, and Tolland counties in CT. It operates 13 retail banking offices in Bloomfield, Cromwell, East Hartford, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, Newington, Plainville, Southington, South Windsor, Vernon, and West Hartford. The Credit Union was founded by employees of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in 1935. Member deposits are federally insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). For more information, visit americaneagle.org.