The Personal Economics Program (PEP) began in 1977 to help bankers with classroom presentations to students in elementary and high schools. Today, this ABA Education Foundation program reaches all ages.

PEP is a national volunteer education program of bankers working with educators to teach people in their communities about banks, banking services and personal financial management, and help them take control of their finances. While supported nationally by the Foundation, PEP is implemented locally by state organizations, such as state bankers associations, Young Bankers Groups, and American Institute of Banking chapters, as well as individual bankers.

Participating banks have access to educational materials, which include videos and brochures. Topics range from checking account management and banking services for entrepreneurs to coinage/currency printing and careers in banking.

Since 1977, half a million PEP banker presentations have reached more than 17.5 million people, from kindergarten students through senior citizens.

1/31/07 NFCC Launches 2007 National Financial Literacy Poster Contest In an effort to spread lessons in financial literacy to the youth of our nation, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is sponsoring the BE MONEY WISE National Poster Contest in 2007. The theme is “Plant the Seed of Saving to Grow Your Future." Read More.

02/22/07 ABA Education Foundation Banker Addresses Financial Literacy Summit
It is extremely important for schools and volunteers from the financial services community to join forces to help raise the financial literacy level of the nation's young people, ABA Education Foundation banker Buffy Murphy said yesterday at a financial education summit co-hosted by the Treasury and Education Departments in Washington, DC. Read More.

02/07/07 FDIC Issues Suggestions for Managing Money
The winter issue of FDIC Consumer News, released yesterday for National Consumer Protection Week, features practical suggestions for dealing with money matters. Read More.

02/07/07 OTS Issues Consumer Brochure on Gift Cards
As part of the Office of Thrift Supervision's Consumer Protection Week series, yesterday the agency unveiled a brochure, "Consumer Fact Sheet: Buying, Giving, and Using Gift Cards," that gives advice on gift cards issued by financial institutions. Read More.

10/17/06 Consumer News Gives Tips on Avoiding Costly Errors
The fall issue of FDIC Consumer News features tips on avoiding costly mistakes that consumers make when using checking accounts, credit cards, and other financial services.

The mistakes include not checking up on their checking accounts; paying credit card bills late; signing up for new credit cards without understanding the costs; and getting nontraditional mortgages without considering the increased costs.

The publication also highlights the latest frauds targeting bank customers.
Read it

8/15/06 FDIC Releases New Spanish-Language Deposit Insurance Video
FDIC now offers a new Spanish language video for bank employees and customers explaining federal deposit insurance coverage. The new video may be viewed through FDIC's Web site and can be ordered by insured institutions on VHS, DVD, and CD-ROM. Read More

  05-23-06 Tennessee Banks and Bankers Honored For Consumer Education Efforts – Memphis State Instructor Earns Award for Teachers
The Tennessee Bankers Association (TBA) Young Bankers Division recently honored outstanding banks and bankers for excellence in educating the public about personal finance, banking, and economics through its Personal Economics Program (PEP). More than 100 consumer education awards and certificates were announced during a special ceremony at the TBA’s 2006 Leadership Convention held at The Peabody in Memphis in April. Click here for a release containing information about the awards, the winners, and a complete list of all winners. Read More

05-19-06 Financial Literacy Efforts Reach More Students
More than 8,000 bankers—a record—participated in this year's National Teach Children to Save Day, the ABA Education Foundation reported this week. Tennessee was one of only nine state associations plus Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia that reached the goal of 20 percent participation by eligible member banks. Thanks to all the Tennessee banks that made presentations for Save Day and made this distinction possible. Read More

04/06 • 10th Annual National Teach Children to Save Day - April 25, 2006

04/25/06 - Teens are fastest growing group of bankruptcy filers
(FAYETTEVILLE) -- Teenagers pump billions of dollars into the nation's economy and some do it with plastic instead of cash. At the same time, young people are also the fastest growing group of bankruptcy filers. Read More

04/20/06 - Money-Challenged Teens
A majority of teens say they know how to write a check (61 percent) and use a debit card (54 percent), but just 41 percent know how to balance a checkbook, according to the Charles Schwab Foundation, San Francisco. Read More

04/06/06 - Financial Literacy Improves, but Only Slightly
The Washington, DC-based Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy's nationwide biennial financial literacy survey shows that while the number of survey questions that students answered correctly has increased, the rate of that increase is growing slowly. The average score for the 2005-06 survey was 52.4 percent, up marginally from 52.3 percent in the 2003-04 survey, the coalition said this week. Read More

03/30/06 - New Financial Literacy Toolbox Debuts
ABA launched its newest member-only resource—the ABA Toolbox on Financial Education—today with resources, lesson plans, communications tools, and a strategy to help bankers meet a growing need for more and better financial education for Americans. Read More

PEP Fact Sheet

PEP stands for the Personal Economics Program sponsored by the Tennessee Bankers Association. Nationally, the American Bankers Association Education Foundation coordinates the program. The program promotes understanding of banking and financial services.

PEP programs are designed to fit your needs and can include virtually any topic in the banking and financial industry. Examples of PEP sessions include credit responsibilities, checking account management, and careers in banking.

Bank tours following PEP sessions for school children are popular in the program. Your PEP banker can arrange a general bank tour or design a tour centered around your topic of interest.

Who:
PEP is for everyone, regardless of age. Sessions can be structured to fit the educational level and need of your group. PEP sessions are excellent for kindergarten classes, junior and high school classes, college classes, adult civic groups and young adult clubs.

Where:
PEP is everywhere throughout Tennessee, or, at least can be. PEP sessions are conducted by volunteer bankers. Over 300 Tennessee bankers participate in PEP. If you are interested in scheduling a PEP presentation contact your local bank.

Why:
The TBA sponsors the PEP program to help educate the community on banking issues. PEP training and materials are offered to TBA members through the association.

How:
To schedule a PEP session or to learn more about the program, e-mail or call Monique Jenkins at 615-244-4871
or 800-964-5525.