National Cooperative Bank (NCB), a leading financial institution which provides banking products and services to Southern Ohio and the nation’s cooperatives, is pleased to announce that four local high schools took advantage of the NCB’s Money Matters Program, a free, online financial literacy program sponsored by NCB, at no cost to the schools, during the 2014-15 school year.
NCB has partnered with leading education technology company EverFi, Inc., to bring this interactive, web-based financial management program to over 775 students since the program’s inception in 2012. In the 2014-15 school year, the program reached more than 375 students.
“NCB is very proud of the number of students we have reached with critical financial education, as it is just one of the many indicators of our commitment to the local community,” stated Deb Jones, NCB co-president Ohio Region. “We are proud of these statistics and prouder yet of the students’ efforts to understand important aspects of personal finance like what a credit score means and how to save for college and their futures.”
The students reached through the NCB Money Matters Program completed 2,873 individual modules and 1,868 hours of learning during the 2014-15 academic calendar year. Among the valuable topics covered were saving, banking, investing, renting versus owning, credit scores, taxes and insurance, and consumer fraud.
“The program is engaging, interactive, practical, and real world,” stated Darci Miles, Hillsboro High School business and financial literacy teacher. “I can’t tell you how many times my students have made comments to the effect that they really appreciate learning things that they will actually use in the real world.”
NCB has partnered with EverFi, Inc. to bring the program to local students at no cost to the schools or the taxpayer. The web-based program uses the latest in new media technology to bring complex financial concepts to life for today’s digital generation. The platform uniquely tracks the progress and performance of every student and provides students who successfully complete the course with Certification in Financial Literacy, a valuable mark of distinction on college applications and resumes. EverFi’s curricula is highlighted in the CFPB’s April report, Policy Guide for Advancing K-12 Financial Education, for it’s innovative approach to teaching financial education and cutting-edge technology.
“EverFi strives to help today’s generation prepare for a lifetime of difficult financial decisions”, said EverFi CEO and founder Tom Davidson. “We are grateful for our partnership with NCB which provides the critical tools students need to be informed and responsible consumers.”
NCB has offered this program to all five Highland County Schools and Fayetteville-Perry High School. Currently utilizing the program are Hillsboro High School, Fairfield High School, Lynchburg-Clay High School and Fayetteville-Perry High School. NCB awards the school with the highest percentage of students completing the program a $2,000 technology grant each year and also awards one student from each participating school a $1,000 scholarship annually.
Submitted by NCB.
