in the latest Charles Schwab Financial Literacy Survey said money management was the most important skill for children to learn, outranking the dangers of drugs and alcohol, healthy eating and exercise habits and safe driving practices. And, nine in 10 agreed that a lack of financial education contributes to some of the biggest social issues our country faces, including poverty, unemployment and wealth inequity.


Which brings us to another lesson learned from the pandemic: significant disparities in health, education and job opportunities persist. Tose disparities have exposed some populations to greater risk — of catching COVID-19 or losing a job — and they’ve leſt some children more vulnerable than others to the negative effects of school closures.


Education, including financial education, can help reduce these disparities and give all Americans an equal opportunity to prosper. Few are more qualified to deliver lessons in personal finance than bankers, so I strongly encourage you to register as a volunteer for a financial education program today. Te ABA Foundation makes it easy and free. Visit aba.com/FinEd to learn more and sign up. Tis is


one of the most important ways bankers can make a long-term difference in the lives of others.


Te more individuals we reach with this valuable information, the better off our communities will be. And there’s no doubt it is better to learn personal finance lessons in a class Zoom than in a crisis.


Email Rob Nichols at nichols@aba.com.


THE MISSOURI BANKER 7


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