Wouldn’t you like kids and adults in your area to learn about checking and savings accounts, how to calculate interest, what a mortgage is, and other basics about banking?

The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to investigate using the Association’s Banking on Your Future program to teach these financial skills to young people and adults in your community.

Studies show that people all over the country do not have enough financial knowledge to protect themselves from going into debt or not saving enough for retirement.

The Association launched the BYF program in 1998, and it has proved immensely popular with bankers and educators. The books are made available to bankers at a very low cost so that they can in turn donate the materials to local schools. (See order form, page 19.)

"From the beginning we have worked to make Banking on Your Future affordable for bankers, because we ask bankers to donate the materials to their local schools," said Mac Deaver, MBA president. "We haven’t raised the prices of the materials since we introduced them back in 1998."

Bankers who have used the program say they believe in using it in local schools. Myrna Story, vice president of marketing at First State Bank in Waynesboro, says her bank has used the program for a long time.

"First State Bank understands the importance of teaching students the basic skills to be financially competent," Story said. "We feel that Banking on Your Future is such an excellent program that we have used it over and over again."

Mike Keen, an assistant vice president at RiverHills Bank in Port Gibson, said the program is a way to ‘give back’ to the local community. "Not only can we reach students, we can reach some adults that may have questions and are afraid to ask," Keen said. "The program shows students that the credit decisions they make now will affect them in the future. Most importantly, we want everyone to know that the bank is here to help."

Neil Henry, a senior vice president at Trustmark in Meridian, said teachers are big fans of the program.

"Teachers and students seem to really appreciate the Banking on Your Future booklet and I feel it’s a real asset for a young student to have," Henry said. "I feel it’s important for us to educate young men and women about how banks operate, and how we can help them get into college, buy a home, and simply provide them ways to save and manage their money."

The network of Mississippi Young Bankers County Chairmen coordinate payment and involvement for the Banking on Your Future program in their area. To get involved, call the MBA office at (601) 948-6366 to find out the name of your County Chairman.

To find County Chairman information online, visit www.msbankers.com, click on ‘MBA Members,’ ‘Young Bankers,’ and ‘County Chairmen.’