by Saiqa Anne Qureshi, Staff Writer, FWSF MarCom Committee
April is National Financial Literacy Month, an opportunity to learn more about finances, from budgets to long-term planning, with an emphasis on bringing that knowledge to young people so they can start out with smart decisions. Starting in 2003, this month focuses on promoting financial education and empowerment for individuals and families so that they can make informed decisions.
Increasing financial wellness and building capacity around financial knowledge are some of the goals of the month, and this collaborative endeavor supports communities widely to celebrate achievements and improve financial literacy. Many banks and credit unions participate in a range of ways, including community engagement with free educational programs, hosting workshops with schools and libraries and working with state finance, banking, and consumer affairs departments to improve educational access overall.
Educational programs focus on a range of activities, including budget simulations, credit management, savings and spending, debt reduction education, challenges for kids, and fun activities like decorating piggy banks! They also support people of all ages to think about retirement and other long-term financial goals and planning, including investing and understanding the steps involved in purchases like property ownership or car loans.
There are many ways to volunteer and support this amazing month! That includes the social media campaign, #FinancialLiteracyMonth, with themes from the American Banking Society, including the power of literacy, promoting empowerment, protecting our seniors, and investing in our youth, weeks one through four of the month. You can support advancing literacy in your community and encourage participation of youth, with days like “Teach Children to Save Day” (TCTS) held annually, on the 27th of April.
Happy Financial Literacy Month!
From Connections Newsletter (Food for Thought): April 2025
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Sources
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/april/national-financial-literacy-month-april
https://www.moneyfit.org/financial-literacy-month/
https://www.councilforeconed.org/financial-literacy-month/
https://www.retirepathva.com/resources/news/april-is-financial-literacy-month
https://www.jumpstart.org/awareness/financial-literacy-month/
https://www.aba.com/about-us/aba-foundation/financial-education-programs/financial-literacy-month