Building Financially Literate Communities

Teaching Excellence in Financial Literacy

We need your help by nominating an outstanding teacher in your local community who has tackled the important topic of financial literacy in the classroom this past year. The teacher could be from High School, Middle, or Elementary levels. It could be from departments of business education, economics, social studies, math or other section. To be considered, a community banker must nominate a teacher. There is a cash reward of $1,000 for the winners. Filing Deadline: Nov. 15, 2011, Announcement Deadline: Dec. 15, 2011. For details, click here.

IBAT Legacy Giving Campaign

John Shivers Memorial Fund

This past summer, “Big John” Shivers, one of the outspoken leaders of Texas community banking and a founder of IBAT died. His passing caused many Texas community bankers to reflect on the current banking environment with this question. “How important is True Community Banking to Texas and America?” With hindsight of 20-20 and a passion for what we do as Community Bankers the answer is clear. Community Banking is a Still

difference maker in helping people build their dreams and the communities we share. It is in that spirit of strengthening, nourishing and promoting community banking, and with the permission and support of the Shivers family, that we invite you to make a legacy gift in the John Shivers Memorial Fund... read more.

Waco Area Teachers Get Prep In Financial Literacy

Teachers from Waco Independent School District and 26 other area school districts received the first look at a new IBAT Educator Prep Program on Financial Literacy Saturday, October 22. The program was made possible by the Foundation of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), PULSE EFT network and six area community banks... read more.

Financial Literacy Summit

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas Education Foundation teamed with the Texas Bankers Foundation to sponsor the fourth annual Financial Literacy Summit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on July 21-22.

Willard Still, IBAT Foundation Chairman, said financial literacy is crucial in today’s economic climate.

“Texas has the lowest credit scores in the country and we rank 44th in home ownership. We need to make sure our young people have a better understanding of what they are doing financially,” he said... read more.

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Money Smart for Young Adults Curriculum

FDIC Releases Updated Money Smart for Young Adults Curriculum - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced the release of an updated and enhanced version of its instructor-led Money Smart financial education curriculum for young adults... read more.

Help Bring JA Finance Park to San Antonio

"SA scores on credit are lagging." So read the headline of the Business Section of the October 6, 2010 issue of the San Antonio Express-News. With only 8.8 percent of consumers earning an "A" credit rating, San Antonio ranked the lowest rating among 50 metropolitan areas. And nearly half of consumers in the area were rated with a "D" or an "F."

This clearly indicates the need for financial literacy education in our community. Helping young people understand the basics of financial literacy - budgeting, investing, the use of credit - has never been more critical... read more.

The IBAT Education Foundation

As the philanthropic arm of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, the IBAT Education Foundation funds initiatives with the power to help community bankers actively create a more secure financial future for all Texans. Our focus is directed toward financial literacy programs for consumers and bankers.

Texas community bankers are seeking ways to be proactive in counteracting a threat to the public's financial health - mounting consumer and commercial debt, understanding how banks operate, and taking responsibility for choices and financial decisions.

The Foundation, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, is guided by its own Board made up of IBAT members. As we grow, the Board will grow and always exemplify the partnering between community bankers and the communities they serve by including civic leaders, philanthropists, spouses, business leaders and others.

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IBAT Teaches JA

Own the history of the first thirty-five years of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas. The purchase of every book supports the IBAT Education Foundation finanical education initiatives, teacher scholarships for excellence in teaching finanical education. Order the book online.

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