Message of the month of October
Cyber Security Awareness is celebrated in October. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), implementing cybersecurity best practices is important for individuals and organizations. Using strong passwords, updating software, and thinking before clicking on suspicious links will improve your online security. The FDIC is well aware of identity theft and in their learning game How Money Smart Are You? offers the topic Protection of Identity and Other Assets.
For more information on how to protect yourself and your family from identity theft, visit the following resources:
Money Smart and Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated between September 15 and October 15 each year, recognizes the significant achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino people to our history, economy and culture. This year’s theme, “Pioneers of Change: Together We Forge the Future” seeks to capture the “spirit of innovation, resilience and unity that defines the Hispanic community.”
The FDIC is committed to promoting financial education for Hispanic/Latino individuals by, among other things, providing free and easily accessible materials, information and resources in English and Spanish.
The Money Smart financial education program provides individuals with the knowledge, tools and resources necessary to manage their finances effectively, access traditional banking services, and cultivate positive banking relationships. The Money Smart program offers several of its courses in Spanish:
- Money Smart for Adults and the financial education game How Money Smart are you? provide people with practical knowledge, opportunities to develop skills and resources they can use to manage their finances with confidence;
- Money Smart for Small Businesses (MSSB) provides entrepreneurs with topics related to starting and running a business;
- Money Smart for Seniors raises awareness about how to prevent financial exploitation of older people by encouraging advance planning and informed financial decision-making;
- Guides for parents and caregivers Money Smart for Youth They offer practical activities and conversation topics on financial issues such as saving, setting financial goals, prioritizing spending decisions, and staying safe in line.
- Our latest addition, Money Smart News for kidsteaches them basic banking terms, about what banks do, why they are important, and how the FDIC keeps your money safe; and
- Other FDIC Spanish resources include: Open a bank account!, Deposit insurance, Welcome to EDIE—the FDIC Electronic Deposit Insurance Calculator y FDIC Consumer News in Spanish.
Additionally, this year the FDIC will host a virtual seminar to highlight how our programs can be used in efforts to educate the public about fraud and scam prevention. The seminar will take place on October 3, 2024 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. To register, click click here.
New Money Smart success story
“Money Smart has been extremely useful material,” said Mr. Carlos Andrés López, Director of Special Programs at MIRA USA. “We have been able to conduct 15 trainings in the last year for 60 to 70 volunteers.”
MIRA USA is a non-profit organization that promotes the social integration of immigrants in the United States. With presence in 11 states MIRA USA was part of the “FDIC Together” pilot program. The pilot program was a one-year initiative by the FDIC to expand financial education in the United States Hispanic population through collaborations with organizations serving Hispanics, and the ultimate goal of disseminating Money Smart resources from FDIC in English and Spanish.
Mr. López said MIRA USA has grown very quickly. “We have 1,200 volunteers in 20 cities on the East Coast” and plans are already being made to form a team in Boston by the fall.
MIRA USA uses Money Smart for Adults, Money Smart for Small Businesses, and How Money Smart Are You? “We are moving forward step by step,” Mr. López said. “So we can do one thing at a time, like build credit.” In fact, a couple of weeks ago they held a course in New York City on credit scores and they had 35 attendees.
MIRA USA responds quickly to the economic needs of its communities. For example, when their communities witnessed the theft of seniors’ utility bills through the mail, where thieves called consumers to pay the stolen bills, MIRA USA hosted two workshops using Money Smart for Seniors to address elder abuse. seniors.
MIRA USA also started a Youth Leadership Program to motivate young Latino leaders. Laura Bedoya, vice president, leads the group that has 90 committee members. The leadership program has chairperson functions and every two years the committee leaders rotate and change. The program focuses on three areas: women’s leadership, business and entrepreneurship, and research. The goal is to develop that particular community.
Mr. López and Ms. Bedoya do not do the financial education training alone. “We have 100 trained volunteers,” Mr. López said. “and sixty of them are part of the Youth Leadership Program.”
“We are especially grateful to the FDIC for allowing us to use the Money Smart methodology for our workshops. In 2024, to date, we have conducted 24 workshops focused on financial education using Money Smart in 15 cities across the United States, benefiting 823 members of our community, including business owners, adults and seniors. Additionally, we held our 2024 Home Fair in Atlanta, where we promoted the benefits of homeownership in our Atlanta community by providing information on responsible home buying to 1,200 community members. We sincerely appreciate all of the FDIC’s support,” said Mr. López.
Congratulations to MIRA USA and its team for all their successes!
MIRA USA is a member of the Money Smart Alliance. To learn more about Money Smart Alliance or become a member of Money Smart Alliance, you can click here.
Upcoming Money Smart events
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and AARP will host a webinar on October 30 at 1:00 pm ET to present our Money Smart guide for Seniors in observance of National Cyber Safety Month. You can find more information here.
The latest edition of FDIC Consumer News
The October 2024 issue of FDIC Consumer News is titled “Your Bank and Social Media.” The article provides information on how to interact with your bank on social media. To learn more, read the full article here.
Helpful Tips and Techniques
Are you looking for a resource that provides financial education training or assistance in preparing presentations or programs?
Do you need administrators or presenters for virtual financial education programs?
The “Association of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Alumni” (AFDICA) is an organization of former FDIC employees and is dedicated to fraternity, charity and financial education. It maintains a strong program focused on the FDIC’s Money Smart curriculum and has developed a team specifically dedicated to promoting financial education.
Any organization, public or private school, community, civic, service, or religious organization can apply for help. AFDICA offers a complement to FDIC’s Money Smart presentations for specific audiences, youth, young adults, or older adults, for single sessions (days or hours) up to a semester in length. AFDICA staff are also available to assist you with the guidance and development of the Money Smart program you wish to introduce.
Please feel free to contact AFDICA by emailing moneysmart@afdica.com if you have any questions or would like to discuss AFDICA’s financial education program.
This month you can find us at…
American Association of Service Coordinators in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 30, 2024.
Jump$tart National Educators Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on November 4, 2024. We will host a session on the Guide to FDIC Guide to Organizing Reality Fairs (in English).
AMLE High School Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on November 9, 2024
[SH4]Good point! I think that is the number of states where they have deployed our programs, not where they have presence. We should probably confirm the information with Carlos Lopez to ensure the information is accurate
