Penny Pinchers Program Offers Financial Literacy for LG Youth

La Grange Elementary School’s kindergarten class got to take their first field trip on Tuesday, March 18, to National Bank & Trust for a financial education program, Penny Pinchers.

Students practiced signing their name on deposit slips in exchange for $80 worth of shredded money, sat inside a vault and learned about safe deposit boxes, talked through needs vs. wants when it comes to lending money from the loan department and even got to pull up a seat in the Board room “Since the start of the 24-25 school year, our amazing group of bank volunteers have made monthly trips into the classrooms to teach introductory financial vocabulary, math and reading,” said NBT Vice President Jennifer Schattle. “Good money habits must be learned, and by talking to kids when they are still small, they’ll be better equipped to manage their finances when they get older.

“Community banks like National Bank & Trust, play a critical role in financial education,” Schattle added. “Whether it’s offering banking products like our Penny Pinchers Savings account for children under the age of 18, or facilitating financial literacy presentations at La Grange Elementary School through NBT’s Penny Pinchers education program, it’s important to connect with the kids. Banking and money matters can be overwhelming, so the information must be succinct – and fun, of course!”