ABA Foundation Highlights Major Financial Education Milestone, Launches 2026 Programs

The American Bankers Association Foundation today launched its 2026 financial education programs, encouraging banks across the country and their more than two million employees to participate in these industry-wide efforts to strengthen financial capability in communities across America.

Alongside the launch of this year’s programs, the ABA Foundation is celebrating a major achievement of exceeding its three-year, industry-wide commitment to reach 5 million individuals with financial education lessons and resources.  Through the collective efforts of more than1,300 banks and 110,000 bank volunteers nationwide, the Foundation surpassed this target by delivering free, high-quality financial education to 6.15 million individuals of all ages and life stages. 

“Reaching more than five million Americans in just three years is a testament to the power of bankers coming together with a shared purpose,” said Lindsay Torrico, executive director of the ABA Foundation. “The Foundation aims to carry this momentum into its 2026 programming to reach even more communities and inspire financial confidence, resilience and opportunity for every individual we serve.”

The ABA Foundation’s 2026 financial education efforts are anchored by four national initiatives, each designed to equip banker volunteers with turnkey tools and materials to share essential financial knowledge. All programs are completely free for both ABA member and non-member banks and include:

• Teach Children to Save
• Get Smart About Credit
• Safe Banking for Seniors
• Lights, Camera, Save! Video Contest

This year, the Foundation will expand its financial education programs to include a comprehensive suite of consumer-facing tools focused on fraud and scam prevention, tax education and credit repair. These additions aim to better equip young people and families with the knowledge and confidence to navigate critical aspects of financial well-being. 

Teach Children to Save
Now in its 29th year, Teach Children to Save is the ABA Foundation’s signature youth-focused initiative, providing banker volunteers with resources to educate K-8 students about money management and real-world financial concepts. The program features age-appropriate lessons delivered through classroom presentations, engaging activities, social media outreach, and community events. This year, there will be new interactive activities for each grade band, and a newly redesigned quarterly newsletter banks can share with parents, teachers and students in their communities.

While Teach Children to Save Day will be celebrated on April 23, bankers are encouraged to promote financial education throughout the year. 

Get Smart About Credit
Get Smart About Credit helps bankers provide teens and young adults with practical guidance on budgeting, understanding credit scores, identity theft prevention, paying for college, as well as a dedicated section on “financial firsts” designed to help young adults navigate their finances as they enter their first full-time jobs, and an introduction to careers in banking.  

This year, the program will add infographics and corresponding activities on fraud, the basics of credit and understanding credit scores and their impact. There will also be new handouts that expand on the many careers available in the banking industry.  

The national campaign is traditionally celebrated on the third Thursday each October, but bankers are encouraged to host presentations and educational sessions year-round.

Safe Banking for Seniors
The ABA Foundation’s Safe Banking for Seniors program supports older customers, along with their families and caregivers, by helping them recognize and avoid fraud, identity theft, and financial exploitation. Led by banker volunteers nationwide, the program addresses emerging scam tactics and financial threats while also providing resources to help families prepare for and manage financial caregiving needs. This year, the program will add new content focused on staying safe online and navigating digital banking.

Curricula for Teach Children to Save, Get Smart About Credit and Safe Banking for Seniors are available in both English and Spanish.

Lights, Camera, Save!
Lights, Camera, Save! is a national teen video contest that challenges young people to create a short video highlighting the importance of smart money management. While this year’s entry period has closed, teens can start planning for the 2026-2027 competition for a chance to win cash prizes of up to $10,000. Teen filmmakers of all levels are encouraged to participate. 

Bankers participating in ABA Foundation programs receive turnkey lesson plans, promotional materials including social media graphics, videos, and other communications tools, real-time support and on-demand training resources to make community engagement seamless and effective. There is no cost to register or participate in any Foundation program.

The ABA Foundation’s financial education programming is generously supported by sponsors including Citi, Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, FICO, JPMorgan Chase, Visa, and Wells Fargo. Interested banks can learn more or register at aba.com/FinEd or by calling 1-800-BANKERS.