Citi Financial Education Program

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Citi's Financial Education Program

Highlights March 2008

United States

Citi/Junior Achievement Banks in Action Program Concludes In Graduation Event

On March 26 Citi and Junior Achievement of Arizona celebrated the completion of Arizona's first JA Banks in Actions program with a special graduation event on the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park campus. This was Citi Arizona's first time partnering with JA in support of this unique program which was delivered to five business and web design classes at Vail High School over an eight-week period.
Citi's volunteers visited their assigned class once a week, delivering curriculum that taught fundamental banking and economic concepts, and allowed students to explore career interests in the banking industry. Through a variety of hands-on activities, the Vail students began to better understand the relationship between what they learn in school and successful participation in the global economy.
Each student team competed against others in their class for the title of "Bank of Choice", and now that five Bank of Choice teams have been identified, they will compete in the North America Virtual Elimination Round, to be held on May 6, which will feature winning teams from other high schools across the country.
Citi Foundation is the global sponsor of JA Banks in Action.

St. Louis: 2008 Habitat Family Financial Education

Citi - St. Louis volunteers from CitiMortgage and CitiFinancial are in the midst of teaching financial education to the first wave of 2008 Habitat families. The training will continue with a second group once all Habitat families have been chosen. This is the fourth year that Citi - St. Louis has provided the training for all St. Louis area Habitat families.
Habitat family members come together for two hours one night per week over seven weeks. Following dinner, families are divided into adults, teens, and kids to obtain age-appropriate lessons. Materials are sourced through the Citi Financial Education Curriculum, including the Money Know-How with Oscar the Owl for the kids, and Agent Penny and Will Power in Operation Finance for the older kids. Adult and teen topics include Introduction to Financial Services, Basic Banking Services, Money Management, Credit, and Mortgages. For the children, when there is significant age diversity in participants, the older children then become mentors for the younger kids on the evening's topics.
During the sessions, each participant has the opportunity to earn Citi Bucks - a manufactured denomination. Money is awarded based on attendance, assistance, and participation. The money may be used to periodically purchase items from the Citi Store (including small household items, personal items, and The Citi Commonsense Money Guide for Real People) or to save for future use. Citi is partnering with Beyond Housing on the savings incentive.