How this nonprofit is empowering St. Louis youth with key financial skills

Business Journals

30-04-2025

Financial Literacy Month, observed in April each year, is a time dedicated to promoting the importance of financial education and inspiring individuals to develop healthy financial habits in areas of budgeting, saving, investing and managing debt.
Citi recognizes the importance of financial education, and Citi volunteers participate in several financial education activities, including engagement in the American Bankers Association Foundation's financial education campaigns. This valuable effort is echoed by other organizations across the industry and remains a key priority in empowering the local community.
Teach Children to Save (TCTS) is the U.S. banking industry's largest volunteer effort, designed to teach children, grades K-8, the importance of saving for the future and developing healthy money habits early in life. As part of TCTS, one example of how volunteers make an impact is through partnerships with Junior Achievement.
Real world examples, in a comfortable classroom setting
Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis works to help young people discover what's possible in their lives by helping them connect what they learn in school with life outside the classroom. Volunteers recently spent the day in a local second grade class, teaching curriculum that opens their eyes to the community around them. Students participated in real-world discussions on the types of jobs needed to make a community operate and the issues residents of a community might experience. They also engaged in age-based budgeting activities and even took part in a classroom-wide vote.
Based on a study conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, 98% of Junior Achievement alumni feel confident in their ability to manage money, a significant statistic compared to the national average of 60% who feel confident among the general population. These programs are building life skills and lay a foundation for upward mobility. In the 2023-24 school year, Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis served 173,053 students with an incredible 5,378 local volunteers leading the way.
'When we provide our young people with financial literacy skills and knowledge to make smart money decisions, we empower them to invest in their futures and their communities for a lifetime,' said Amy Fillo, program manager at Junior Achievement.
From the classroom to home
Children often bring what they learn home, especially if they enjoyed how and what they learned. Teaching children about budgeting or saving can influence an entire family, as well as impact how the family interacts around spending. When a child decides they want an item, witnessing their ability to earn it is quite impressive. Saving teaches discipline, patience and responsibility and, yes, even those terms can be used with elementary-aged children.
When children become more conscious of finances and the importance of saving, they may be less likely to pressure parents for spending and can, in turn, influence family members to do the same. Over time, positive financial habits passed through generations can transform struggle into stability. The hope is to start making an impact with engaging financial literacy for local youth as often as volunteers and educators are able.
From home into the community
Teaching children to save benefits their personal future but also empowers families and creates more resilient communities. Each day, there is an opportunity to develop our youth with a knowledge of possibilities and an eagerness for success. Whether that is learned through a financial education program at school or an interaction with a caring volunteer through another nonprofit program, investing in the overall development of our youth has countless benefits that can consequently benefit the community around them.
Additionally, the study shows that 97% of Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis participants graduate high school with a GED or higher, and 68% achieve a bachelor's degree or higher. Statistics show that financial education can also lead to entrepreneurship, as children exposed to financial literacy are more likely to consider starting businesses, which create local jobs and boost the economy.
Citi is proud to support programs that strengthen our schools, increase support for the community and lead the way in financial literacy.
Citi has a longstanding commitment to the St. Louis region, with a site for Citi located in the Greater St. Louis area for over 50 years. The Citi St. Louis is currently home to over 2,000 employees and is located in O'Fallon, Missouri. .