Free Financial Literacy Program

Originally posted in the Wetzel Chronicle newspaper

Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union is working with Banzai, a national award-winning financial literacy program to make curriculum available to area elementary schools and high schools completely free.

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

“But because Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free. More than ever, it’s important that kids develop sounds financial skills to prepare them for the real world, and Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union realizes that and they’re doing something about it.”

Banzai is an interactive, online program supplemented by printed workbooks which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It as become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 27,000 teachers and available in all 50 states.

BHFCU has offered time, money, industry, experience, and a variety of credit union resources to help local schools teacher 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, financial 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 Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union to improve financial literacy in local schools.”

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