Students learn about financial literacy
Programs were delivered during 2017-18 school year
SOUDERTON » Univest Bank and Trust Co. continued its tradition during the 201718 school year, of offering financial literacy programs in area schools — reaching a total of 5,406 students during the school year that just ended.
Twenty-four Univest employees visited more than 15 local schools and youth organizations during the school year to teach ageappropriate lessons about saving money and making smart financial choices.
According to Kimberly Detwiler, senior vice president and director of corporate communications for Univest, the company officially launched a financial literacy program in 2007, but has been providing financial education to its customers and members of the community for “decades.”
“The goal of the program was to educate young children about the importance of saving while making it fun. Our financial literacy outreach has grown and evolved since then,” she said.
“Our communities need increased financial education and we believe it should start with our youth,” Jeff Schweitzer, president and CEO, Univest Corp. said in a press release. “Teaching our children these important concepts can help them establish and maintain healthy financial habits that will last a lifetime.”
Detwiler added that some states require schools to adopt financial education into their curriculum.
“Pennsylvania is not one of them. Some districts in our area do have a requirement but most do not,” she said. “This is why it is ever more important for Univest to do its part by bringing this important curriculum to our local students.”
The lessons are based on the age of the students, according to Detwiler. Topics include saving and budgeting for kindergarten and first graders to managing your credit and ways to avoid debt for high school students.
“We align our presentations to connect with each grade level,” she said, adding that the company aims to avoid a lecture format, instead presenting the information in an interactive format.
“There are also games, stories and a variety of other tactics used to keep the learning fun and informative,” she added.
Univest employees participated in the American Bankers Association’s Get Smart About Credit Day last fall — a national campaign that raises awareness about the importance of using credit wisely, according to the release. Univest employees then visited local high schools to teach 1,500 students about the importance of having good credit, budgeting and how to make smart financial decisions.
Univest employees also provided lessons to 2,300 students in kindergarten through eighth grades as part of the American Bankers Association’s Teach Children To Save Day in April. The presentations included ways to earn money, the importance of saving and needs versus wants in decision-making.
Through its partnership with EverFi, which provides real world education to learners of all ages through digital learning, Univest delivered tailored financial information to more than 1,400 students who completed 3,627 hours of critical financial learning.
Univest offers the financial literacy programs in school districts across the region it serves. Detwiler said schools, clubs or other community organizations interested in scheduling a financial literacy presentation can contact Betsy Roush at 215-721-2522. For more information about Univest Bank and Trust Co. visit www.univest.net.