Financial Literacy Update - January/February 2013
January/February 2013 The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)'s Financial Literacy Update is a bimonthly e-newsletter that reports upcoming financial literacy events, initiatives, and related resources of the OCC and other government agencies and organizations. Financial Literacy Update provides brief descriptions and Web links for upcoming events in chronological order. It lists initiatives and resources (with Web links) in alphabetical order. We welcome your feedback. Have an upcoming financial literacy event, new tool, or product? Please e-mail us at CommunityAffairs@occ.treas.gov. Online versions of Financial Literacy Update are available at www.occ.gov/flu.
Updates as of January 22, 2013 Save Your Refund Initiative
February 1 - April 15, 2013
The Doorways to Dreams Fund, a non-profit organization, is sponsoring a nationwide sweepstakes to encourage saving at tax time. Tax filers may use IRS Form 8888 to split their income tax refund into multiple accounts. If they choose to save at least $50.00 in an eligible savings account, they may win $250 in weekly drawings or a grand prize of $25,000. See the Web site for details. Upcoming Events Income Tax Preparer Webinar
January 16, 2013
Community Financial Resources hosts these income tax preparation webinars for nonprofit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparers. Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day
January 25, 2013 (Nationwide)
This seventh annual event promotes public understanding of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The Web site explains how to participate in EITC Awareness Day and about the availability of free tax preparation sites. 2013 Colorado Fiscal Fitness Workshop
January 25–26, 2013 (Westminster, Colo.)
The Colorado Jump$tart Coalition and Great-West Life offer this free two-day workshop to all Colorado educators working with students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. The goal is to help build knowledge about personal finance. Get 10 Virtual Quest in New Hampshire
January (New Hampshire)
The New Hampshire Jump$tart Coalition sponsors this online scavenger hunt for students ages 14–18. The quest challenges students to find the correct answers to 10 questions every informed consumer should know. Teacher Workshops in Southeastern U.S.
January and February
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta sponsors numerous teacher workshops and events in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. America Saves Week 2013
February 25–March 2, 2013 (Nationwide)
The Consumer Federation of America, the American Savings Education Council (ASEC), and America Saves host the annual America Saves Week. The goal is to encourage people, particularly lower-income families, to save money and build wealth. The event offers information and advice on paying down debt, building an emergency fund, and saving for a home, education, and retirement. Military Saves Week 2013
February 25–March 2, 2013 (Nationwide)
As part of America Saves Week, the Consumer Federation of America and the U.S. Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign host Military Saves Week to encourage service members and their families to review their savings progress and to take steps to boost their savings. The program provides information, advice, and encouragement toward paying down debt, building emergency funds, and saving for a home, college, and retirement. 2013 National Consumer Protection Week
March 3–9, 2013 (Nationwide)
The Federal Trade Commission, other federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations sponsor this event. The event, Web site, and a blog highlight the importance of consumer education and offer free resources to help consumers protect their privacy, manage credit and debt, avoid identity theft, understand mortgages and other loans, and recognize scams that target consumers. High School Fed Challenge
March 14–April 24, 2013 (New York, N.Y.)
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York sponsors this competition designed to bring real-world economics into the classroom. Teams play the role of policymakers by analyzing current economic conditions and recommending a course of monetary policy. Assets for Independence Grant Deadlines
March 25 and May 24, 2013 (Nationwide)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Community Services administers the Assets for Independence (AFI) program, which provides five-year grants to nonprofit organizations and government agencies that empower low-income families to become economically self-sufficient for the long term. Grantees provide financial education training on money management issues and assist participants with saving earned income in Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, qualified state and local governments, low-income designated credit unions, community development financial institutions, and other community-based organizations. Applications for AFI grants of up to $1 million are being accepted. Money Smart Week
April 20–27, 2013 (Nationwide)
Money Smart Week is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. Hundreds of organizations across the country—including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, nonprofits, government agencies, and the media—come together to stress the importance of financial literacy. Annual Conference on Financial Education in Orlando
April 3-5, 2013 (Orlando, Fla.)
The Institute for Financial Literacy hosts its annual Conference on Financial Education. The conference offers professional development and networking opportunities for those involved in financial literacy education. Participants learn about current trends, best practices, and ways to promote financial education. Teach Children to Save Day
April 23, 2013 (Nationwide)
Teach Children to Save, a program sponsored by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation, brings together students and bankers and promotes savings education. The foundation invites bank volunteers to visit local classrooms and share information with students about fundamental money skills. MoneySmarts for New Hampshire Teachers
May 9, 2013 (Concord, N.H.)
The New Hampshire Jump$tart Coalition offers this one-day conference to expand educators’ personal financial literacy skills, enhance current curriculums, and advance the use of financial education curriculums in the classrooms. National Economics Challenge
May 17–19, 2013 (New York, N.Y.)
The Council for Economic Education sponsors this national competition to foster interest in economics among high school students. New Initiatives Pathway to Financial Success
Discover Financial’s Pathway to Financial Success program provides grants to high schools to cover the costs of implementing a standards-based financial education course and training teachers on the curriculum. Ready.Save.Grow.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury offers Ready.Save.Grow, a public education campaign that encourages Americans to use U.S. Treasury securities as a safe and convenient way to save. New Resources Consumer.gov
The Federal Trade Commission offers this Web site containing free resources for people to learn about credit, debt, identity theft, and avoiding scams, as well as budgeting, opening a bank account, shopping for prepaid cards, and managing money in general. The material may also be ordered in bulk at bulkorder.ftc.gov, and the site is available in Spanish at www.consumidor.gov. Consumer.ftc.gov
The Federal Trade Commission offers this consumer information Web site that includes videos and games, a blog, and streamlined articles that highlight actionable, practical tips on a wide range of consumer topics. The site is also available in Spanish. CFPB Publications
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publications are now available for download or bulk ordering. Consumers or partner organizations may print copies of the initial set of brochures and handouts and order up to 300 copies for free bulk delivery. Game Theory Academy
The Game Theory Academy offers financial literacy lesson plans and case studies aimed at high school students grappling with financial or risk decisions and learning to budget. Case studies written by teenagers from their life experiences come with teacher’s notes, questions, and in-depth activity sheets. IRS YouTube Video Channel
The Internal Revenue Service YouTube video channel provides short, informative videos on various tax-related topics in English, American Sign Language (ASL), and a variety of foreign languages. Money Crunch
Sponsored by the Extension programs at the University of Tennessee, University of Kentucky, University of Florida, and Kansas State University and by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, the Money Crunch program teaches young employees, ages 18–24, how to budget, plan to achieve their goals, save money for investments, and build wealth. Studentaid.ed.gov
The U.S. Department of Education and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation offer this Web site containing information on obtaining money for higher education, including preparing for college, types of aid, qualifying for aid, applying for aid, and managing student loans. themint.org
The National Council on Economic Education offers this site that provides tools to help parents and educators teach children to manage money wisely and develop good financial habits. Total Tax Insights
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) offers this online calculator designed to give U.S. taxpayers a clearer, more complete picture of their estimated total federal, state, and local tax obligation. The calculator and content on the site help users to gain greater awareness of the need for better financial and tax planning and to consider the impact of taxes when making financial decisions. |
