Local students are getting a free education in how to manage their money, with the support of Sno Falls Credit Union.
The Snoqualmie-based credit union is working with Banzai, a financial literacy program, to make curriculum available to five schools in the Snoqualmie Valley School District, Chief Kanim Middle School, Twin Falls Middle School, Mount Si High School, the Freshman Campus and Two Rivers School, as well as Eastlake and Skyline High Schools in Sammamish and Tesla STEM High School in Redmond.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this valuable program to local students in and around the Snoqualmie Valley,” says Tim Williams, President and CEO of Sno Falls Credit Union. “It is so critical to us that we help educate today’s youth about the importance of developing healthy financial habits early on. There are troubling statistics out that show how vulnerable young adults truly are when it comes to basic financial concepts like credit, budgeting, and loans. We want to be a part of the solution to give students the basic tools and understanding they will need in order to make smart choices with their finances as adults. “
Banzai is an interactive, online program supplemented by printed workbooks which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education.
“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said. “But because Sno Falls Credit Union is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free.”
Sno Falls Credit Union has offered time, money, industry experience, and a variety of credit union resources to help local schools teach personal finance in the classroom. Students using the program are exposed to real-life scenarios, learn to pay bills and balance a budget and manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs and savings.
For more information on Sno Falls, visit https://snofallscu.teachbanzai.com.
