The First National Bank and Trust Company provides financial literacy to Central Illinois
February 9, 2018
Clinton, Ill., February 9, 2018 - First National Bank and Trust Company, in partnership with Connie Unruh of the TS Institute, will provide numerous financial literacy educational events and programs to help local students of all ages in Central Illinois.
Financial literacy curriculum provided by TS Institute, is made possible by First National Bank’s mission to reinvest 10 percent of its pre-tax income back into the community. The non-profit was created in 2009 to collaborate with school districts to promote financial literacy to grades K-12, with a goal to promote future sound financial decisions.
TS Institute recently expanded to Central Illinois, and hired Connie Unruh, Financial Literacy Coordinator who is located at First National Bank. Connie’s past experience consists of financial advising and accounting before joining the TS Institute.
In the United States today, families are faced with critical financial decisions now more than ever. The TS Institute is a resource to help families handle decisions concerning the economy, education and most importantly, personal finance with expertise. The institute is taking a long-term approach to solving financial pain with the goal to create a more financially savvy future generation.
Upcoming financial literacy events in the area:
Money Smart Week- April 21-28, 2018
TS Institute is chairing this week long event in De Witt, Piatt and Logan Counties. Programming is offered in the community and at local schools to help consumers better manage their personal finances. All programs are free of charge. For more information about this program click here: https://www.moneysmartweek.org/.
Money Mammals
De Witt, Piatt and Logan County kindergarten classes are learning from the Money Mammals how to save, share and spend smart. This class includes a lesson and a TS Institute piggy bank for the students to save at home.
Piggy Bank Pageant
De Witt, Piatt and Logan County elementary classes will participate in a Piggy Bank Pageant this spring. Students will learn the power of saving and get to design their own personal bank. The winning designs will get a cash prize to start their savings.
Poster Challenge
De Witt, Piatt and Logan County middle school students will participate in a Poster Challenge in conjunction with Money Smart Week. Students will learn why it is important to save and produce their own posters detailing why they believe it is important to save. The winning designs will get a cash prize and their posters on display at the bank.
Essay Contest
De Witt, Piatt and Logan County high school students will participate in an essay contest in conjunction with Money Smart Week. Students will write a short essay on this year’s national topic. Essay winners will receive cash prizes and will be announced at the Money Smart Week kick-off event on April 21 at Warner Library in Clinton.
Kids Read
On Saturday, April 21, Money Smart Week will kick off with the reading of this year’s theme book, Little Critters: Just Saving My Money by Mercer Mayer. The event will take place at Warner Library in Clinton.
Adult Financial Literacy Workshops
Free adult workshops will be offered at the library on Saturday, April 21 at Warner Library in Clinton.
Money Mentor Classes
TS Institute is hosting free classes at the Community Care Center in conjunction with First Christian Church. These classes meet on Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. and cover money basics such as how to open a checking account, how to budget and save for emergencies, and how to improve your credit score.
Choices
The Choices program is designed to help students make positive choices that will increase their career and life opportunities. Middle schoolers from Clinton, Heyworth and Lincoln will learn in this interactive decision-making workshop focused on keeping teens in school, motivating them toward their education and future and introducing them to practical skills to help them succeed.
Junior Achievement
Volunteers in Clinton and Lincoln will bring Junior Achievement to students in kindergarten to 8th grade. Junior Achievement is the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures and make smart academic and economic choices.
Future Smart
Middle school students in Bloomington are learning how to make wise financial choices for themselves and their friends in this interactive class.
Entrepreneur Camps
Camps for middle school and high school students are planned for this summer. These camps will teach students how to work in teams to take an idea and turn it into a thriving business!
For more information about these financial activities and how to get them implemented at your school or organization contact Connie Unruh, The First National Bank and Trust Company at connie.unruh@tsinstitute.org or (217) 935-7464.
First National Bank & Trust Company is a community bank located in Clinton, Illinois. Dedicated to community prosperity, the bank was chartered in 1872 under the name DeWitt County National Bank. The name was changed to First National Bank and Trust Company in 1974, and was recently acquired by TS Banking Group in 2017. With $125 million in assets, First National Bank is dedicated to community reinvestment and gives 10% of its net income back to the community. For more information visit firstnbtc.com.