[NFEC Update] Financial Literacy Update - December 2009/January 2010

Fri Dec 4 16:38:47 EST 2009

 Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National
Banks<http://www.occ.gov/graphics/OCC_commaffairsleft.gif> 

Financial Literacy Update 

Community Affairs

December 2009/January 2010

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)'s Financial Literacy
Update is a bimonthly e-newsletter containing information about upcoming
financial literacy events, new initiatives of the OCC and other
government agencies and organizations, and other related resources. 

Financial Literacy Update provides brief descriptions and Web links for
upcoming events in chronological order. We list new initiatives and
resources (with Web links) in alphabetical order. We welcome your
feedback on the Financial Literacy Update. Please e-mail us at
communityaffairs at occ.treas.gov.

Upcoming Events - New Initiatives - New Resources

Upcoming Events

Collegiate Video Contest
<http://www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/videocontest.cfm> 

October 23-December 18, 2009 (Nationwide)

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis sponsors an economic education
YouTube contest for college students. The Education Resources division
of the bank seeks online videos that illustrate one or more of these
economic concepts for high school audiences: scarcity, factors of
production, and opportunity cost.

Executives in the Classroom Week
<http://www.fsround.org/community/pdfs/CommunityService2009HighlightEven
ts.pdf> 

December 6-12, 2009 (Nationwide)

The Financial Services Roundtable engages the financial services
industry and its executives in financial literacy sessions across the
country. The sessions reaffirm the industry's commitment to increasing
financial literacy in our communities with "Executives in the
Classroom." The week will focus on building national and local awareness
of the importance of financial literacy. The event will be led by
Community Service 2009 Partner, Junior Achievement.

The Future of Savings: "What's on the Horizon?"
<http://cfsinnovation.com/events/article/440407> 

December 15, 2009 (Nationwide)

The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) presents, "The
Future of Savings: What's On the Horizon?" This Webinar will layout the
challenges and innovations in motivating consumers to save. Experts from
across the financial services marketplace will tackle challenging
questions such as: will consumers continue to save after the economy
rebounds; what does the ideal savings account for underbanked consumers
look like; what role do banks and nonprofits have in reaching savers;
and which innovations will shape the future of savings?

Financial Literacy Teacher Training Workshop Series
<http://cobe.boisestate.edu/icee/events-and-seminars/teacher-training-wo
rkshop-series/> 

January 20, 2010 (Twin Falls, Idaho)

The Idaho Council on Economic Education and Wells Fargo Bank present a
monthly teacher training series. The workshops feature lessons and
provide handbooks and materials appropriate for grades K-12. Tools
include the Hands on Banking program, Stock Market Game, and the
Classroom Mini-Economy program.

America Saves Week <http://www.americasavesweek.org/> 

February 21-28, 2010 (Nationwide)

America Saves Week is a national campaign managed by the Consumer
Federation of America. The campaign is a broad coalition of nonprofit,
corporate, and government groups to help individuals and families save
and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, the
groups assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund,
or save for a home, an education, or retirement.

Michigan Jump$tart Coalition 2010 Professional Development Conferences
<http://www.mijumpstartcoalition.org/1.php> 

March 25, 2010 (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

April 17, 2010 (Marquette, Mich.)

The Michigan Jump$tart Coalition 2010 Professional Development
Conferences are one-day conferences promoting financial literacy. The
conferences provide teachers and educators with financial education
tools, resources, updates, and ideas to teach financial literacy in
their classrooms.

Money Smart Week Chicago
<http://www.chicagofed.org/education/msw/chi_index.cfm> 

April 17-24, 2010 (Chicago, Ill.)

Money Smart Week Chicago is an initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago. During the week, the Fed Bank provides a series of free classes
and activities designed to help consumers better manage their personal
finances.

National Credit Union Youth Week
<http://finlit.cuna.org/youth_week.html> 

April 18-24, 2010 (Nationwide)

National Credit Union Youth Week highlights youth involvement and
encourages savings. During the week, the Credit Union National
Association provides ideas and resources to help promote youth week and
participate in the National Youth Savings Challenge. 

Money Smart Colorado <http://www.moneysmartcolorado.org/> 

April 24-May 1, 2010 (Statewide)

Money Smart Colorado is a public awareness campaign designed to help
consumers better manage their personal finances. This is achieved
through the collaboration and coordinated effort of organizations across
the state, including businesses, financial institutions, schools,
libraries, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and the media.
These groups come together once a year to stress the importance of
financial literacy, inform consumers where they can get help, and
provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. 

2010 Symposium: Financial Literacy: Implications for Retirement Security
and the Financial Marketplace
<http://www.pensionresearchcouncil.org/conferences/conf-2010.php> 

April 29-30, 2010 (Philadelphia, Pa.)

The conference is intended to inform policymakers, academics, actuaries,
plan sponsors, and benefits specialists about what has been learned and
what remains to be done to take advantage of the "teachable moment"
resulting from the financial crisis. 

5th Annual Underbanked Financial Services Forum
<http://www.americanbanker.com/conferences/cfsi10/chair.html> 

June 9-11, 2009 (Miami, Fla.)

This year's Forum will feature concurrent tracks focused on credit,
payments, and deposits. Every member of your organization will share
experiences, ideas and connections and learn new approaches to implement
optimal programs quickly and cost-effectively. 

2010 Personal Financial Literacy Conference
<http://iowajumpstart.org/whatwedo/2010-personal-financial-literacy-conf
erence/> 

July 22-23, 2010 (Des Moines, Iowa)

The Iowa Jump$tart Conference on financial literacy provides teachers
with information, materials, and new ideas for their classes so they can
improve students' prospects for financial success. 

New Initiatives

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Launches Financial
Education Program to Educate and Assist Prospective Home Buyers
<http://www.cdfifund.gov/what_we_do/programs_id.asp?programID=8> 

In October 2009, the Community Development Financial Investment Fund
(CDFI Fund), an agency under the U.S. Department of Treasury, launched
the Financial Education and Counseling Pilot Program. The pilot program
seeks to identify successful methods for financial empowerment and to
establish program models for organizations to offer effective financial
education and counseling services to prospective home buyers. The
program will provide low-income and low-wealth persons with the skills
they need to make good financial decisions. 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Launches Foreclosure Prevention
Initiative <http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/index.html> 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation offers a free tool kit of
information to help homeowners and the banking industry avoid
unnecessary foreclosures and to stop scams that promise false hope to
consumers at risk of losing their homes. The tool kit includes a new
brochure entitled, "Is Foreclosure Knocking at Your Door?," which
encourages consumers facing difficulties to contact their mortgage
servicers and apply for loan modifications.

Financial Literacy Research Consortium
<http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/flrc-pr.htm> 

Financial Literacy Research Consortium is a research initiative launched
by the U.S. Social Security Administration to better inform the public
about retirement options. The consortium is made up of research centers
at Boston College, the RAND Corporation, and the University of Wisconsin
and will develop innovative materials and programs to help Americans
plan for a secure retirement.

Greater Rochester Area Financial Literacy Initiative>
<http://www.careprogram.us/grafli> 

The Greater Rochester Area of New York has launched the Credit Abuse
Resistance Education (CARE) program, a financial literacy initiative
with the goals of educating the public about budgeting and saving,
understanding, and analyzing the true cost of any credit; finding ways
to save money on purchases; and discussing finances with children. The
program also is reaching out to those in the community who find
themselves in severe financial distress to inform them where they can
get help with their finances.

Investor Education in Your Community <http://www.dfi.wa.gov/IEIYC/> 

Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and the Consumer
University present, "Investor Education in Your Community." This is an
outreach project aimed at providing financial education through multiple
workshops and presentations in communities throughout Washington State.

Redefining Defined Contribution Plans to Enhance Retirement Security
<http://www.prudential.com/media/managed/Prudential_redefine_oct09.pdf?s
rc=News&pg=RedefiningDCPlanspdf> 

This publication produced by Prudential, proposes a new model for the
design, management, and administration of defined contribution plans,
one that delivers an effective answer to the retirement-savings crisis
now plaguing American workers.

Stand Up for Financial Literacy <http://www.stand4fl.org/> 

Stand Up for Financial Literacy is a program designed to create a
public-private partnership of celebrities, sports figures, financial
advisers, coaches, educators, lawmakers, and concerned citizens to
promote Financial Literacy Month in April 2010. This same group of
persons also will take part in the 45-day competition, developed by
Sarano Kelley, called "The Game," which is set to begin in the nation's
classrooms on April 1, 2010. This program will allow the delivery of
financial literacy curriculums to classrooms every April, honoring
National Financial Literacy Month. 

United Way Funds Financial Literacy Programs for Disadvantaged Youth
<http://www.uwsd.org/media-events/media-events-file-folders/press-releas
es/united-way-funds-financial-literacy-programs-for-1> 

United Way has announced nearly $650,000 in funding to support financial
education for formerly homeless, refugee, and economically disadvantaged
youth, ages 13-24, and those leaving foster care.

Young Illinois Saves
<http://www.econcouncil.org/programs_youngadults.html> 

Young Illinois Saves is a collaborative effort to increase teen and
young adult saving in Illinois. The program motivates teens and young
adults to save, using trained volunteers to teach about the benefits of
saving and budgeting. The program makes saving easy through its bank
partnerships and incentives for students to make savings commitments and
begin to save. 

New Resources

An Economic Snap Shot <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/thenews/thedollar/> 

An Economic Snapshot is a financial literacy feature of an online news
program for middle and high school students called "the News." The
program is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. Standards-based
lesson plans in social studies/economics and language arts along with a
time-coded transcript are available in the "For Educators" section of
the Web site carrying the program.

Banking on Our Future <http://www.bankingonourfuture.org/> 

Operation Hope's "Banking on Our Future" is designed to execute a global
delivery system for financial education for youth ages 9-18 at no cost
to school districts, with a focus on urban, underserved communities. The
program also offers an online curriculum that teaches young adults about
the language of money management and to take control of their financial
future.

Be Money Wi$e Poster Competition
<http://www.moneywisepostercontest.org/> 

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling will hold the Be Money
Wi$e National Financial Literacy Poster Contest in 2010. The contest
allows young students to think about how to manage money effectively and
offers them a creative outlet to demonstrate their knowledge. It also
offers the opportunity for local and national recognition for student
artwork and rewards winners with U.S. Savings Bonds and other prizes. 

Budgetball <http://www.budgetball.org/> 

The National Academy of Public Administration and the National
Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education have launched a
project to help young adults take charge of their own financial future
and participate in the public debate about how best to secure national,
state, and community fiscal sustainability.

Consumer Jungle <http://www.consumerjungle.org/> 

Consumer Jungle is a non-profit organization that presents an
interactive, Web-based program that provides engaging and relevant
consumer education on topics such as credit cards, transportation,
living on your own, personal finances, telecommunications, health, and
e-commerce fraud.

Credit-Ed Challenge <https://credited.usecreditwisely.com/workshop/> 

Citigroup's Credit-Ed Challenge is a program aimed at educating college
students about credit and budgeting. The program can be taken
individually online, or a teacher can order materials to hold a workshop
for students.

Earned Income Tax Credit Platform <http://www.eitcplatform.org/> 

The Earned Income Tax Credit platform is a new and expanded Web site as
a resource for organizations providing low-income tax preparation
services. The site offers practical, high-quality tools, training, and
group buying discounts to community-based programs and coalitions
nationwide. The platform is developed and managed by the Aspen
Institute.

Fifty Nifty Econ Cards
<http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/fiftynifty/> 

The Federal Reserve Board presents, "Fifty Nifty Econ Cards," to help
elementary and middle school students develop knowledge of economic and
personal finance words. The resource guide, activities, and games help
teachers integrate economic vocabulary into the school day through
language, math, social studies, and art.

Financial Football Training Camp
<http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/games/trainingcamp/> 

Visa Inc. and the National Football League have teamed up to help teach
financial concepts with "Financial Football." This is a fast-paced,
interactive game that teaches students money management skills. Teams
compete by answering financial questions to earn yardage and score
touchdowns.

Financial Foundations for Kansas Kids! <http://www.ff4kids.com/> 

The Kansas Council on Economic Education and its partners are proud to
introduce "Financial Foundations for Kansas Kids!" The foundations are a
comprehensive set of standards-based, interactive computer courseware
lessons that integrate personal financial literacy and economic
principles into the social studies, language arts, and math curriculums.

Financial Literacy
<http://financialaid.uconn.edu/literacy/index.php/Main_Page> 

The Office of Student Financial Aid Services for the University of
Connecticut has a Web site that provides tips and resources to promote
financial literacy and to help students make financial decisions.

Financial Soccer
<http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.aspx?Feed=BW&Date=20090
923&ID=10416064&Symbol=V> 

Visa Inc. has announced the launch of a new Federation Internationale de
Football World Cup-branded educational video game as the centerpiece of
a commitment to reach 20 million people worldwide with financial
literacy information by May 1, 2013.

LifeSmarts <http://www.lifesmarts.org/> 

LifeSmarts is an online educational program that develops the consumer
and marketplace knowledge and skills of teenagers and rewards them for
this knowledge. The program complements the curriculum already in place
in high schools and can be used as an activity for classes, groups,
clubs, and community organizations. LifeSmarts is a program of the
National Consumers League. 

Money Talks Podcasts
<http://www.oklahomamoneymatters.org/Financial/podcasts.shtml> 

Oklahoma Money Matters created podcasts about money management for
college students. Money Matters has three new podcasts-Financial Aid,
Identity Theft, and Living on a College Budget. Money Matters is
produced by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. 

PNC's Multimedia Financial Literacy Education Center
<http://pnc.financialliteracy101.org/home/resources/financial_literacy.c
fm> 

PNC Bank's multimedia education center is a series of online learning
modules directed toward college students. In addition to the modules,
PNC also offers hundreds of pages of aid and money management tips and
tools. After each module, students are given the option to add it to
their personalized "My Money" pages. Use this feature to get more
detailed information on topics of your choice.

Reality Store
<http://www.wicpa.org/Content/PublicResources/Financialliteracy/RealityS
tore.aspx> 

The Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants presents
"Reality Store," a financial simulation in which high school students
choose careers and make decisions about their budgets and lifestyles.
The activity is a fun and effective way for students to learn about
personal accounting, financial responsibility and life choices, and
interact with business people.

SaveTogether <http://www.savetogether.org/> 

SaveTogether is non-profit organization that envisions a world in which
savings incentives and long-term financial stability are available to
everyone. SaveTogether collaborates with carefully screened nonprofit
organizations to build a community dedicated to matching the savings
goals of the low-wage workers and helping them save for economic
stability.

Savings Challenge
<http://www.aarp.org/money/consumer/savings_challenge/> 

AARP presents the Savings Challenge, a Web page that offers practical
and easy money-saving tips from financial expert, Jeff Yeager. You can
join the Savings Challenge Group, where you can share your stories about
haggling down prices, finding great deals, and creative ways you have
cut down on your spending.

Wealth Watchers <http://www.ewealthwatchers.com/index.html> 

Wealth Watchers International helps people set and track a daily goal
for saving and spending. The foundation of the online program is the
Wealth Watchers Spend Smart Journal-a tool that gives people a daily
reality check as to where their money goes.

Your Money New York
<http://www.yourmoneynewyork.com/helpresource/families/women.php> 

Your Money New York announces a new section of its Web site providing
financial information and resources for women and their families. This
multilingual site covers credit cards and consumer debt, home mortgages,
savings and investments, insurance, and protection against identity
theft and financial scams. Your Money New York is produced by the New
York State Office of the State Comptroller.

Women's Institute for Financial Education <http://www.wife.org/> 

The Women's Institute for Financial Education (WIFE) is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to providing financial education to women in
their quest for financial independence. WIFE offers reviews of personal
finance books and features articles on personal finance topics, online
video clips, and archived WIFE e-newsletters-all designed to improve the
financial expertise of women.

Your Money Counts.com
<http://www.yourmoneycounts.com/ymc/home?WT.svl=901> 

HSBC Bank developed Your Money Counts.com, a comprehensive online
learning resource that helps people understand finances and make
informed financial choices. This online guide to financial and credit
education provides people with interactive calculators, information on
current money issues, in-depth information on specific money topics,
financial education booklets, and quizzes to test their financial
knowledge.

------------------------------HelpWithMyBank.gov
<http://www.helpwithmybank.gov/>  - The OCC's Web site that provides
answers to about 300 commonly asked banking questions. While targeted at
national bank customers, the site answers many questions common to all
banking consumers and provides useful information about contacting
regulators of state banks, thrifts, and other financial institutions. A
link from HOPE NOW to HelpWithMyBank.gov has been established. 

MyMoney.gov <http://www.mymoney.gov/>  - The U.S. government's Web site
dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics of financial education.
The site houses important information from 20 federal agencies on such
topics as buying a home, foreclosure prevention, deposit insurance,
privacy, fraud, scams, balancing a checkbook, and investing in a 401(k).

Subscribe: <http://www.occ.gov/canewslistserv.htm> Sign up for the OCC's
"Financial Literacy Updates" by visiting
http://www.occ.gov/canewslistserv.htm.
<http://www.occ.gov/canewslistserv.htm>  

Have a notable financial literacy event coming up? Rolling out a new
financial literacy initiative? Developing a new tool or product? Have
general feedback? E-mail us at communityaffairs at occ.treas.gov
<mailto:communityaffairs at occ.treas.gov> .

Information in Financial Literacy Update is generated from publicly
available sources. Inclusion of a non-OCC event, activity, product or
hyperlink in this e-newsletter does not constitute an endorsement by the
OCC. The OCC does not exercise editorial control over information you
may find when linking to non-OCC Web sites and cannot guarantee the
accuracy of such information. 

 <http://comptroller.lyris.net/db/44516/155677/1.gif> 

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