Benchmark Federal Credit Union is joining forces with Banzai, the national award-winning financial literacy program, to make a financial curriculum available at 43 Chester County schools free of charge.
“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program,” said Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai. “Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life. But because Benchmark Federal Credit Union is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free.”
Vandagriff added that today more than ever, it is important for kids to develop good financial skills to prepare them for the real world.
“We are the only federal credit union to exclusively serve Chester County, so we know the children in our community from the time they open their first bank accounts for their allowances, to when they later get married and have their own children,” noted Benchmark President & CEO, David LaSala.
Banzai is an interactive, online program accompanied by printed workbooks which align with state curriculum requirements for education in personal finance.
Students using the program are presented with real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills and balance a budget. They also discover how to manage credit cards, loans and unexpected expenses.
“Too often students get out of school and they just aren’t ready for the financial roller coasters life can give us,” said Vandagriff. “Banzai teaches students to navigate those twists and turns and come out on top.”
Teachers interested in this program can go here or call 888-8-BANZAI.
Check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Benchmark Federal Credit Union here.
