Get money smart right now with these Birmingham-based tools + resources
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It’s always a good time to be money smart, no matter our stage or phase of life. To that end, we asked for tips and tools people of all ages can use from the experts at Birmingham-based Regions Bank.
Read on to learn what they shared about the many free programs, tools and resources you can use today.
Starting young with smart money habits
Becoming money smart is an acquired skill, which is why local educators so greatly value Junior Achievement programs for their students.
Inverness Elementary School second-grade teacher Mauri Crisler has welcomed JA presenters to teach her kids for the past eight years. She easily cites many examples of how it benefits the kids, including one class in which the kids negotiated and voted on which amenities they’d fund first in a hypothetical park.
“I think that just opens really good conversations and understanding. So while they do learn personal budgeting, they also learn financial literacy in a broader sense.”
Mauri Crisler
At Hayes K-8 School, students in every grade get a full day with JA presenters, who present programs and answer questions. School Counselor Dr. Vivian Hopkins Moss says the students love learning directly from financial professionals.
“It is great to see the ‘AH’ moments with the kids when they can make connections with how important finances are to their everyday lives.”
Dr. Vivian Hopkins Moss
JA of Alabama reaches approximately 31,000 students annually, presenting basic financial, economic and social studies programming as early as possible to help set them up for success throughout life.
Regions Bank has partnered with Junior Achievement of Alabama for many years, from fundraisers like its annual Bowling Classic to board service to associates presenting programs in K-12 classrooms.
💡 Resources: Visit the Junior Achievement of Alabama website to learn about programs + resources for K-12 students.
Navigating cash + college
College comes with a lot of firsts, including handling your own money. Regions helps young adults become money smart in several ways, including the Regions Institute for Financial Education at UAB’s Collat School of Business.
Regions helped establish the Regions Institute for Financial Education at UAB in 2015. Dr. Sharon Yates is the endowed professor who works to carry out RIFE’s focus on increasing financial wellness for students and other community members.
RIFE services include:
- Financial counseling on budgeting, saving, debt management + investing
- Volunteer income tax preparation
- Financial workshops with education + networking opportunities
- 90-day interest-free loans for emergency situations
“Educated individuals make better financial decisions, which benefits not only them but also their families, friends and neighbors. Reduced financial stress can lead to improved mental and physical well-being for a healtheir, more productive community.”
Cheryl Sanders, RIFE Program Director
💡 Resources: Check out the RIFE website for many useful financial courses and resources.
Tools everyone can use
You do not have to be in grade school or college to become money smart, especially with so many free online resources to guide the way.
Since it’s important to know your baseline at the outset of any journey, a Regions Greenprint® plan is a great place to start. You can get this personalized roadmap in three easy steps:
- Set up a time to meet with your Regions banker to discuss goals.
- Collaborate to create a plan.
- Put the plan in motion with tools + support.
Learn more about the Regions Greenprint® plan.
To help you stay on the right path, there’s a whole host of online tools from Regions online. We’ve listed several below!
💡 More Resources:
- Regions Next Step® financial wellness courses, guides, and tips
- Budget and savings calculators
- Podcasts with expert financial insights
- Interactive courses for self-paced learning about credit, savings + more
- Weekly webinars on specific money matters
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