Practice financial literacy with free online courses

Hills Bank and Trust is bringing financial literacy education to over 15,000 students and residents in seven counties across southeast Iowa through Banzai, an online program that allows users to practice finance.

Students at 68 schools in Linn County have free access to Banzai to practice their financial literacy skills at a time when a solid foundation of practical financial knowledge is critical.

Through the Banzai online courses, students learn to manage a budget, save toward a goal and deal with unexpected financial pitfalls. Teachers are able to easily monitor and grade student progress remotely.

Other resources — which include articles, calculators and personalized coaching sessions — explain everything from the basics of filing taxes to how health insurance works. These resources are available at hillsbank.teachbanzai.com/wellness.

“Thanks to Hills Bank and Trust, area students will now have access to a wide array of courses and resources designed to help prepare them for our increasingly complex world,” says Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai. “We wouldn't be able to provide these tools without their support.”

Hills Bank and Trust is working with Banzai to build financial literacy in the community by investing time, money, industry experience and a variety of bank resources. Through their help, students have access to Banzai learning tools, virtual or in-classroom presentations from a Hills Bank and Trust expert, and even class visits to a branch to see it all in person.

Banzai resources are used by over 97,000 teachers across the U.S. These educational tools align with Iowa’s state curriculum requirements, making the program a fun way for students to gain vital skills and an ideal way for anyone in the community to increase their financial literacy. After finishing the Banzai courses, users will know how to track where their money is and what it’s for, recognize financial trade-offs, and plan for a financially sound future.

Teachers interested in using Banzai can visit hillsbank.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.