Teach Children to Save Day


April 20-24, 2009

Teach Children to Save Day is a national event developed by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation. With the cooperation of The Bank of Edwardsville, Commerce Bank, First Bank, First Community Bank, First State Bank, Frontenac Bank, Gateway Bank, Pulaski Bank, Reliance Bank, Royal Banks, Southwest Bank, Truman Bank, United Missouri Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the UM-St. Louis Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education is pleased to offer the program to first-, second-, and third-grade classrooms in the St. Louis area.

During the week of April 21, 2008, Nearly 300 bankers from sponsoring banks visited students in 570 classrooms. The bankers conducted a 45-minute literacy-based lesson that focuses on the topic of saving.

Teacher registration ended December 31, 2008.

Bank volunteer registration begins January 5, 2009
and ends March 1, 2009.

If you are a volunteer from a participating bank, follow these steps to register for Teach Children to Save Day and to choose the classroom(s) you would like to visit:

  1. Visit the registration site and create an account with a username and password.
  2. After you register, your bank representative will approve your registration. This step is necessary to ensure that every volunteer is a legitimate bank employee. Once you are approved, you will be notified.
  3. Revisit the registration site to choose which classroom(s) you would like to visit. You may make your selections anytime during January and February.
  4. Take the online training course anytime between January 5 and April 24.

Bank volunteer registration and classroom matching ends on March 1, 2009. The staff of the Center of Entrepreneurship and Economic Education will seek out bank volunteers to claim any unmatched classrooms, if any remain.

In March, the staff of the Center will prepare the necessary materials for the lessons. By April 1, these materials will be shipped to the bank representatives, so that the bank volunteers will be able to take these materials to the classrooms on the days of their visits.

The online training course for bank volunteers will be available until April 24. Bank volunteers are encouraged to complete their online training early.


This link will send you to the Registration Website,
which is hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

If you have questions about registration, or anything else,
email David Barbero or call 314-516-5248.


A survey of teachers participating in the program confirmed their appreciation and enjoyment.

  • 90 percent of teachers completing the survey agreed that the material used during the banker’s presentation was appropriate for their students.
  • 88 percent of teachers completing the survey agreed that the story and activity engaged their students’ interest.
  • 93 percent of teachers completing the survey agreed that the presentation was valuable for their students.
  • 93 percent of the teachers completing the survey agreed that the banker was prepared and handled the topic well.
  • 98 percent of the teachers completing the survey agreed that the students appreciated the gifts [of a personal finance-related coloring book and a piggy bank] from the banker.
  • 93 percent of teachers completing the survey agreed that the lesson addressed Grade Level Expectations and/or other curriculum standards.
  • 93 percent of the teachers completing the survey would recommend the program to their colleagues.

And this is what they had to say ...

“We really enjoyed the presentation. The math problems may have been a little above our grade level, but with teacher help, the students were able to work the problems. Thanks again for coming into our classroom!”

“Thank you for the gifts for my class and for the wonderful information - it follows my social studies curriculum exactly! Thanks again!”

“I have participated in this program for the last 2 years and everything has been great: materials, presenters, etc. Keep up the good work!”

“Great job - great program! Would definitely use it again next year! Thanks!”

“My class liked the program and are still talking about how they have money in the bank."