First Illinois School Passes Financial Literacy Program with Flying Colors

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Forty-three students from Collinsville High School were the first students in Illinois to graduate from the nationally-recognized EverFi financial literacy program. The school's program is sponsored by TheBANK of Edwardsville through a partnership with the Illinois Bankers Association (IBA). By successfully completing each module of the program, these students now are certified in hundreds of core financial topics, including banking, savings and budgeting, mortgages, credit cards, financing higher education, stocks, 401(k) plans, credit scores, insurance and taxes.

The graduation and certificate award ceremony were held on Feb. 8 at the school, and State Senator Kyle McCarter, spokesman on the Senate Financial Institutions Committee, was a featured speaker at the event. Also speaking were Dr. Robert A. Daiber, Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools, John Miller, Mayor of the City of Collinsville and Linda Koch, President and CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association. Students, teachers, parents, bank representatives and community leaders also were on hand. 

Senior Vice President of TheBANK of Edwardsville Rob Schwartz stated, "As a community bank, we see first-hand the problems young people face when they get out of high school and begin handling their own finances. Many often struggle with budgeting, credit and how to handle a basic checking account. So it's in all of our best interests to help these young adults get off to the best start possible when it comes to handling their finances. That's why TheBANK feels this program is so important and why we work so hard to recognize the students that successfully complete it. We're proud to be a part of the program and proud of the students who have put in the hard work to learn these tools that can help them the rest of their lives."

The EverFi financial literacy program is an initiative based on a partnership between the Illinois Bankers Association and EverFi, the nation's leading platform to teach students the core concepts of financial literacy. The program is completely underwritten by Illinois banks and savings institutions that partner with their local high schools to bring this important program into the schools at no cost to the school or the state of Illinois. Financial literacy education is mandated as part of consumer education curriculum in Illinois high schools, and this program enables high schools to meet all of the requirements under Illinois law.

Several Illinois banks already have signed on to the program, sponsoring nearly 60 high schools throughout the state, and more are being added each week.

About the Illinois Bankers Association
The Illinois Bankers Association is a full-service trade association dedicated to creating a positive business climate that benefits the entire banking industry and the communities they serve. Founded in 1891, the IBA brings together state and national banks, savings banks, and savings and loan associations of all sizes in Illinois. Collectively, the IBA represents nearly 90 percent of the assets of the Illinois banking industry, which employs more than 100,000 men and women in over 5,000 offices across the state.

About EverFi, Inc.
EverFi's award-winning financial literacy platform uses the latest in new media technologies to create a highly interactive experience for students, including "adaptive pathing," 3-D gaming, social networking, online animations, video and messaging tools.  The platform tracks student progress and reports their scores.  After successfully completing each learning module, students are certified in hundreds of core financial topics, including banking, savings and budgeting, mortgages, credit cards, financing higher education, stocks, 401(k) plans, credit scores, insurance and taxes.

SOURCE Illinois Bankers Association