Northwest Bank Celebrates Financial Literacy Month with Local Students in 2025

Northwest Bank employees are truly committed to the communities we serve, and it is our privilege as bank leaders to have the opportunity to share our knowledge and teach our youth the value of becoming lifelong savers. We encourage financial responsibility at a young age, which in turn will strengthen and maintain our thriving communities for years to come.

Throughout the month of April, our employees shared important lessons on saving money with local community students as part of the American Bankers Associations’ (ABA) National Teach Children to Save Program. Since becoming Teach Children to Save Champions in 2012, we have had the privilege of educating over 20,000 students in partnership with the ABA through this national program. The educational presentations allow our bankers the opportunity to teach students financial skills through activities, interactive scenarios and sharing real-life experiences. The lessons we teach cover the basics of saving, how interest makes money grow, how to cut spending, and how to distinguish needs from wants.

The ABA Education Foundation’s Teach Children to Save Program along with other financial education initiatives have reached more than 890,000 students throughout 2023 and 2024, led by more than 23,500 banker volunteers who increase financial literacy through hands-on learning and raise awareness about the important role that banks, and bankers play in helping young people develop lifelong saving habits.

“Familiarizing students with financial education fundamentals at an early age puts them on a path to becoming smart money-managing adults,” said Joe Conover, President of Northwest Bank. “Teach Children to Save is a great opportunity for us to share our passion for financial education and improve our local community.”

This year we had the privilege of educating over 2,000 students in our local communities. We have a passion for educating our youth about financial literacy and look forward to these special events each year giving our youth a foundation for financial success in the future.

In addition, we had a special delivery for our 3rd grade students this year to provide “Just Like Caitlin” books, written by Ally Obermeier. Caitlin Clark’s love of the game of basketball is contagious. Her talent, spirit, and confidence brought a new level of national attention to the sport of basketball. We are honored to be a part of the mission to help distribute these books to students in Iowa and support the Iowa Youth Athletic Foundation. Through the core values of this book and our commitment to investing in today’s youth, we’re working together to help build future leaders. What better gift for Financial Literacy Month than a book that inspires kids to dream big and work hard!

Northwest Bank is a $2.9 billion community bank that offers a full line of business, agricultural, mortgage, consumer deposit and lending services as well as wealth management and insurance services. Northwest Bank has offices located in Afton, Algona, Ames, Arnolds Park, Ankeny, Creston, Estherville, Fort Dodge, Humboldt, Le Mars, Milford, Shenandoah, Sioux Center, Sioux City, Spencer, Spirit Lake, West Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha and La Vista, Nebraska. Member FDIC.