Credit Union Funds Money Course for Area Schools
Local students are getting a free education in how to manage their money. The Polish National Credit Union is working with Banzai, a national award-winning financial literacy program, to make the curriculum available to 54 schools in the Valley free.
Originally posted on www.gazettenet.com
Hampshire County schools using the program include Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, Northampton, Granby, Hatfield, South Hadley and Westhampton.
“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids have their own bank accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said.
Because The Polish National Credit Union is sponsoring the program, local schools get it for free.
Banzai is an interactive, online program which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 40,000 teachers and available 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 polishncu.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.