FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2011
ABA Media Contact: Sarah Grano
(202) 663-5468
E-mail: sgrano@aba.com
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ABA EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S TEACH CHILDREN TO SAVE
PROGRAM REACHES MORE THAN 5 MILLION CHILDREN
2012 Teach Children to Save Day Set for April 24

WASHINGTON — The American Bankers Association Education Foundation announced today that volunteer bankers have reached more than five million children through its Teach Children To Save program, which began in 1997. The foundation exceeded its goal of reaching five million children by the end of the program's fifteenth year by nearly 100,000 kids.

"We congratulate the more than 1,000 banks that contributed to this goal and encourage all banks to join the effort," said Laura Fisher, executive director, ABA Education Foundation. 

"The lack of financial education in this country puts young people at risk for costly financial mistakes and fraud," Fisher explained. "Our goal is to reverse that one child and one lesson at a time.

Bankers are committed to teaching youth groups, clubs and classrooms full of children who are ready and eager to learn."

In the fifteen years since the program began, 108,861 banker volunteers have taught 144,846 lessons across the country.

The foundation will continue to support bankers' outreach to kids throughout 2012 with a special focus on its annual Teach Children to Save Day on April 24.

"In 2012, our goal is to increase participation among the nation's banks from 1,000 to 1,500 -- a 50 percent increase," said Fisher. "More banks mean more lessons and more children we can reach with savings education."

The Teach Children to Save program connects bankers with kids for savings education lessons. Bankers use their real-life experiences and their background knowledge to motivate students to become lifelong savers.

Bankers interested in participating can sign up online at abaef.com. Registered banks receive free online training, "getting started" and promotional materials, and are featured on the Teach Children to Save Honor Roll, the foundation's list of participants. Click here for a list of 2011 participants.

The ABA Education Foundation provides financial education programs and resources that help bankers make their communities better. More than 123,000 bankers have taught basic finance skills to some 5.2 million young people through participation in the Foundation's signature programs, Teach Children to Save and Get Smart About Credit. Founded by bankers in 1925, the foundation is guided by a board of bankers and is an affiliate of the American Bankers Association.

For more information, visit www.abaef.com or call 1-800-BANKERS.

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