Citi Supports Teach Children to Save Campaign to Boost Financial Resilience for the Next Generation

NEW YORK, NY, April 28, 2017 /3BL Media/-- For the 17th consecutive year, Citi is providing young students across the country with basic financial education sessions as the bank supports American Bankers Association's (ABA) annual Teach Children to Save campaign.

The national program, designed to encourage youth to develop positive financial habits early in life, marks April 28 as Teach Children to Save Day to raise awareness of the importance of helping children learn to save. Through the initiative, Citi volunteers in major cities across the United States visit classrooms, after-school programs and financial education events beginning in April and continuing through June. This year Citi employees will participate in more than 36 events.

“As leaders in the financial services industry, Citi employees have real-world knowledge that can empower children to start saving and build long-term financial habits,” said Citi's CEO of North America William Mills. “Our long-standing volunteer efforts through the Teach Children to Save program help build a stronger, more financially secure next generation.”

“At Citi, supporting our communities is extremely important to us,” said Will Howle, Head of U.S. Retail Bank at Citi. “I’m proud that this year, Citi employees will reach nearly 5,000 children in key markets across the United States, supporting progress in communities where we live and work.”

“Research shows that children with a college savings account in their name are four times more likely to graduate from college than those without a savings account,” said Bob Annibale, Global Director of Citi Community Development and Inclusive Finance. “Through Teach Children to Save and collaborations with municipal governments and nonprofit organizations, Citi works to help provide young people with the critical knowledge, skills and resources they need to achieve financial stability.”

As part of the program, Citi is collaborating with First Book, a nonprofit that distributes books and educational resources to programs and schools across the U.S, enhancing the school visits by sending children home with financial education-themed books.

"Having access to books is one of the most significant indicators of a child's academic success," said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. "And by ensuring kids have books and other educational resources in their schools, programs and at home, we give them opportunities to continue reading and learning, which leads to improved outcomes later in life. We're proud to partner with Citi to reach students in many communities across the country."

“By introducing children to financial concepts at an early age, we better equip them to make smart financial decisions in the future,” said Corey Carlisle, ABA Foundation Executive Director. “Through Teach Children to Save and the volunteer efforts of Citi and bankers across the country, we can shape the financial foundation for millions of children.”

Citi began supporting American Bankers Association's annual Teach Children to Save campaign in 2001. Since then, more than 11,000 Citi volunteers have taught over 110,000 children from low-to-moderate income families in cities across the United States.

Join the conversation or follow along using #TeachChildrenToSave on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

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