Commodore Perry Offers Financial Literacy Program to Local Classrooms

Originally posted on portclintonnewsherald.com

Commodore Perry Federal Credit Union is working with Banzai, a national, award-winning financial literacy program, to make curriculum available to Ottawa County schools free.

“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said.

Banzai is supplemented by printed workbooks that align with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 14,000 teachers in all 50 states.

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.

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