Financial Literacy for Local High Schools
When you think of high school classes, money management isn’t something that comes to mind immediately. However, learning about personal finance at a young age helps set students up for a more successful relationship with money later in life.
Sticking to a budget, paying bills on time, getting a loan, and staying out of debt are just some of the topics that are helpful in a basic understanding of personal finance. Pennian Bank understands the need for financial literacy in our schools, which is why we partner with Banzai, a financial literacy program.
Through our partnership with Banzai, we are able to offer it to local schools, free of charge. Banzai is an interactive, online game that walks students through real-life financial scenarios.
Students are given a fictional income, which they then have to budget. They look at expenses like rent, food, car payments, insurance, gas, clothing, etc., and figure out what portion of their income will go to each category. Throughout the game, they are encouraged to save money in an emergency fund for unexpected expenses.
The game addresses other financial issues, such as renter’s insurance, building credit, and determining housing expenses. It tests their decision-making skills and allows for eye-opening learning on money management.
Currently, Pennian Bank provides Banzai to nine local schools, grades 9-12, at no cost to the school. It is available in classes at the following schools:
- East Juniata High School
- Juniata High School
- Juniata Mennonite School
- Newport High School
- Greenwood High School
- West Perry High School
- Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School
- Susquenita High School
The program has served 40 teachers and over 3,000 students. Here are some things local students are saying after they completed the Banzai course:
“Sometimes unfortunate events occur at bad times, making it hard to save money.” – Student at West Perry High School
“Saving money is more important than I thought!” – Student at West Perry High School
“I learned that no matter how hard I tried, life is expensive and money goes fast!” – Student at Newport High School
“I learned that you need to be careful with credit cards because they can mess up your credit score.” –Student at Juniata High School
To learn more about how Pennian Bank is empowering students through financial literacy, explore our partnership with Banzai’s Financial Literacy program.