FDIC Highlights Growing Community Impact of Money Smart Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 27, 2025 – Financial institutions nationwide are increasingly leveraging the FDIC’s Money Smart program to bolster financial literacy within their communities, with reported activities contributing to Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance.A recent spotlight on program users reveals diverse and effective distribution strategies, ranging from direct provision during account openings to tailored educational sessions in schools.
The Money Smart program,designed to help consumers better manage their financial lives,offers instructor-led curricula for adults and youth. It covers essential topics like budgeting, credit, and homeownership.Financial institutions are finding innovative ways to integrate these resources into their outreach efforts, demonstrating a growing commitment to financial education as a core community service.
One institution shared how staff proactively offer money Smart resources when opening fiduciary accounts and actively promote materials during World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. They also customize the youth curriculum for specific classroom needs, providing handouts for student review and assessment. “When fiduciary accounts are opened, our staff provide appropriate MSOA resources. For World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we encourage our new accounts representatives to offer MSOA workbooks and order copies for customers who prefer printed materials. In schools, I tailor MSYA content to the teacher’s request and use handouts so students can review and even be quizzed later,” a representative explained.
Experienced financial educators are also finding value in the program’s versatility. Money Smart materials can be used “as-is” for new presenters or combined with other trusted resources to create customized lessons. A key takeaway from educators is the importance of fostering open dialogue during sessions.”I encourage questions throughout sessions-and I’ve even seen teachers learn something new alongside their students,” one educator noted.
Furthermore, institutions are actively tracking and reporting their Money Smart activities for CRA purposes. This demonstrates the program’s value not onyl as a community service but also as a tool for meeting regulatory requirements. “Yes. We track and report our community education sessions and list the money Smart materials we use. It supports our CRA reporting and reinforces our commitment to financial education,” a financial institution representative confirmed.
The FDIC encourages continued sharing of Money Smart success stories. Institutions are invited to submit their experiences to ConsumerEducation@fdic.gov for potential inclusion in future newsletters and program updates.
