Bank promotes financial literacy

Lizzie Fitts -

Originally posted with Smyth County News and Messenger

The Bank of Marion stepped up to make partial or full remote learning in the wake of COVID-19 easier.

Thanks to its sponsorship, more than 3,000 students and teachers at eight schools in Smyth County will have free access to Banzai. Banzai is an award winning online financial literacy program and content library of articles, calculators, and personalizable coaches. All of these resources are available to students at home or in the classroom via any device that can access the internet.

“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” said Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai. “But because The Bank of Marion is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free. More than ever, it’s important that kids develop sound financial skills to prepare them for the real world, and The Bank of Marion realizes that and they’re doing something about it.”

Banzai content builds a foundation of practical knowledge and gives students the tools to create a sound financial future. While students learn, teachers can easily monitor and grade their progress remotely. After finishing Banzai, students will know how to track where their money is and what it’s for, recognize financial trade-offs, build a budget, and more. At a time when many are facing unprecedented financial challenges, these lessons are invaluable, Vandagriff said. The Banzai resources are available at bankofmarion.learnbanzai.com.

For over five years, the Bank of Marion has worked to build financial literacy in the Smyth County community by investing time, money, industry experience, and a variety of bank resources. Beyond the Banzai library, The Bank of Marion also offers virtual or in-classroom presentations from local experts on timely topics. Banzai resources are used by over 72,000 teachers across the U.S. The courses align with Virginia and Tennessee’s state curriculum requirements, making the program a way for students to gain vital financial literacy skills.

Teachers interested in using the Banzai program with their class can visit bankofmarion.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.

For more information about Banzai, visit teachbanzai.com. For more information about The Bank of Marion, visit bankofmarion.com.