MAPLE GROVE, MN--(Marketwire - March 3, 2010) - Volunteers from TopLine Federal Credit Union offered two financial literacy and personal money management interactive training sessions to students at Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park. Nearly 80 juniors and seniors in the school's Family and Consumer Science "Real Life 101" classes participated and were eager to learn how to manage their personal finances.
In the class, which focuses on how to prepare for real life after school, students were able to learn from TopLine financial experts the ins and outs of planning and goal setting, budgeting, saving and paying yourself first, writing checks, using debit and credit cards, using credit wisely, understanding credit scores and identity theft prevention tips. In preparation, students were asked to think about their values and spending decisions to create discussion questions, some of which included: How should someone evaluate and choose a bank? What is an interest rate and how is it calculated? Will a credit card help to build your credit history? How much should teens save each week? During the two-week course, students interviewed family and friends to learn how to budget and use credit, were given simulated jobs, and then calculated expenses to create a budget based off that income.
The content for TopLine's program is based on the National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning Program and the National Association of Federal Credit Unions Money Smarts curriculum. Each session is interactive, with thought-provoking questions and real-life examples to show how actions today can have an impact on financial options down the road.
Each student received a Personal Money Management Guide from TopLine to continue to use in class and as a future reference to help them continue fiscal responsibility throughout their lives.
"Valuable financial literacy and the basics of sound money management are important as students begin to venture out in the world on their own," says Rebecca Cranston, Family and Consumer Science teacher, Park Center Senior High. "We are glad to have TopLine experts in the classroom to provide real-life examples and financial smarts to our kids."
"TopLine is committed to educating consumers about financial responsibility. We particularly appreciate opportunities to provide financial education to youth and young adults, to help them learn some basic financial concepts to complement their formal education," says Harry Carter, president and CEO, TopLine Federal Credit Union. "We welcome every opportunity to speak in classrooms and at events relating to financial literacy and personal money management."
TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 13th largest, with assets of more than $260 million. Established in 1935 and celebrating its 75th year of operations in 2010, TopLine offers a complete line of financial services from its headquarters in Maple Grove, and five branch offices located in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Maple Grove and Plymouth, as well as by phone and online at http://www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.
Contact Information:
CONTACT:
Vicki Roscoe Erickson
Assistant Vice President
TopLine Federal Credit Union
verickson@toplinecu.com
763.391.0872