HOULTON — Throughout April and May, bank employees from Katahdin Trust will start children throughout northern and central Maine on the path to a positive financial future by participating in the annual Teach Children to Save Day, a nationwide event to teach children their financial ABC’s.
“Education and hands-on money experience are critical to ensuring a new wave of smart money managers,” said Krista Putnam, vice president of marketing for Katahdin Trust, who oversees the bank’s efforts in the program. “We want parents to know that saving is important and everyone can do it, even kids. Teach Children to Save Day starts children off on the right path to saving for their future and is an important service that we can provide in our community — to our friends, neighbors, and customers.”
Katahdin Trust employees are delighted to participate in conjunction with area teachers in helping children understand basic financial principles and the importance of a savings program, not just for today but for their futures.
The following 30 Katahdin Trust employees will be reaching out to over 600 students across northern and central Maine: Annette Beaton and Tyler Rowe, Greater Houlton Christian Academy; Jolene Wallace, Miranda Lundin and Tannis Lundin, Houlton Elementary School; Sam Clockedile, Loni Giberson and Kim Embelton, Fort Street Elementary School, Mars Hill; Danielle Brewer, Easton High School; Jana Shaw and Beth Michaud, Fort Fairfield Elementary School; Joe Clukey and Billi Griffeth, Pine Street School, Presque Isle; Crystal Levesque, Brian Martin, Jennifer Craig, Julie Chamberlain, Shelby Damboise and Jennifer Blaisdell, Hilltop Elementary School, Caribou; Debra Cyr and April Emery, MSAD 24, Van Buren; Crystal Parent, Eagle Lake School; Angela Franck, Dr. Levesque Elementary, Frenchville; Janet Saucier, Fort Kent Elementary School; Lorraine Guiggey, Katahdin Elementary School, Stacyville; Lisa Willigar, Rachel Desrosier and Debbie Schillinger, Southern Aroostook Community School, Dyer Brook; Jeni King and Dianne Tapley, Bangor Christian School, 14th Street School, Fairmount School, Bangor.
Katahdin Trust offers the following tips for money-savvy parents raising money-smart kids:
– Set the example of a responsible money manager by paying bills on time, being a conscientious spender and an active saver. Children tend to emulate their parents’ personal finance habits.
– Talk openly about money with your kids. Communicate your values and experiences with money. Encourage them to ask you questions, and be prepared to answer them — even the tough ones.
– Explain the difference between needs and wants, the value of saving and budgeting and the consequences of not doing so.
– Open a savings account at your local bank for your children and take them with you to make deposits, so they can learn how to be hands-on in their money management.
– Give your kids positive feedback. As they get older, give them responsibility over how they spend their money.
Since its inception in 1997, the American Bankers Association Education Foundation’s Teach Children to Save Day has reached more than 6 million young people with the help of some 177,000 plus banker volunteers.
Learn more at the Teach Children to Save website: www.teachchildrentosave.com.
