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Money Bus Rolls into Centier Bank’s Financial Literacy Fair

Community celebrates Indiana’s First Annual Money Smart Week^SM

(October 2, 2006 – Merrillville, IN) Centier Bank is bringing Kids Count on the Money Bus to northwest Indiana, October 19-21.  The Money Bus is the nation’s first mobile, personal financial literacy classroom on wheels and is an outreach of Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University.  The custom-RV is loaded with interactive exhibits that engage parents, children and educators in developing sound financial literacy habits early in life.   

Centier Bank will hold a Financial Literacy Fair for Educators on Thursday, October 19, as part of Indiana’s first annual Money Smart Week^SM which will be celebrated statewide October 15-21.  An outreach of the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Money Smart Week^SM brings together organizations committed to enhancing the financial literacy of the elderly, unbanked, and youth.  Although financial literacy challenges are not limited to these demographics, research has proven that these groups are at greater risk of experiencing financial difficulties ranging from over-extended credit to identity theft. 

The event is Centier Bank’s premiere Financial Literacy Fair and is being held exclusively for educators.  Beyond garnering classroom materials that align with Indiana state standards and earning continuing education credit for participating, teachers will have an opportunity to board the Money Bus and participate in the interactive exhibits.  On-board, educators will learn how they can help both children and parents learn about saving, budgeting and banking basics.  Representatives of Centier Bank and Networks Financial Institute also will provide learning resources that may be used to continue helping children develop their financial knowledge following the Money Bus on-board experience.

Continuing Money Smart Week^SM festivities, Centier Bank will sponsor a Money Bus pilot at the Frankie Woods Academy on October 20.  Students will interact in the Money Bus curriculum and participate in on-board experiences ranging from the “build your own sundae” station which teaches budgeting to an audio-visual rollercoaster ride that quizzes students about personal finance and rewards them with coaster time. “Studies show that parents do not feel prepared to talk to their children about responsible money management.  This puts the child at risk of developing credit and debt problems late in life,” noted Michael E. Schrage, Centier Bank president and chairman of the board.    

Centier Bank has served the financial needs of northwest Indiana for more than 110 years and is an avid supporter of financial literacy programs.  The bank has worked closely with the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Council for Economic Education, American Bankers Association, FDIC, Indiana Bankers Association, Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University and the Federal Reserve to implement and develop educational programs to support financial literacy, including programs for non-English speaking citizens.

Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University was founded in 2003 with a grant from Lilly Endowment.  NFI strives to facilitate broad, collaborative thinking, dialogue and progress in the evolving financial services marketplace, concentrating on the areas of education, outreach and research.  Headquartered in Indianapolis with offices in Washington, D.C. and on the campus of Indiana State, and with outreach internationally, NFI’s goal is to serve as a catalyst for change in the financial services industry.  For more information, please visit www.networksfinancialinstitute.org and www.centier.com/moneysmart or contact Dian Reyome at dreyome@centier.com.

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