Chemical Bank employees used their banking knowledge last month to encourage and inspire more than 8,800 students in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to become life-long savers as part of National Financial Literacy Month and National Teach Children to Save Day.

As part of Teach Children to Save Day, Chemical Bank representatives provided basic financial education to second graders at schools across the Midwest. In celebration of their 100th Anniversary and the 20th Anniversary of the Teach Children to Save Program, Chemical Bank also ran a contest through social media where they gave out $100 gift cards for teachers to purchase schools supplies with.

“It is a pleasure working with local elementary schools to educate and inspire students to become regular savers,” said Todd Obren, Chemical Bank’s Michiana Community President. “Our Teach Children to Save Program introduces children to the concept of saving in addition to developing skills for financial success as our employees work to improve the overall quality of life in the communities we serve.”   

The classroom visits involved reading and discussing a storybook about Dollar the Silver Squirrel, Chemical Bank’s mascot.  Activities following this lesson included sharing money related goals and learning how money grows with time.

After the session, students were encouraged to save their money at home in a piggy bank or container and when it is full, bring it to their local Chemical Bank and deposit it into their youth savings account.

In addition to the Teach Children to Save Program, Chemical Bank actively reaches out to our youth by regularly visiting local schools, hosting student tours, participating in junior achievement and offering a minor savings account designed to help children learn to save. Chemical Bank’s financial literacy efforts have also led them to be recognized by the Michigan Bankers Association as Financial Literacy Award winners. To learn more, click on the financial literacy link at ChemicalBank.com.

Chemical Bank encourages children and their parents to visit the “For Kids” page at ChemicalBank.com/aboutus/for-kids to download the free Banker Jr. financial literacy mobile app. Banker Jr. teaches young children ages 2 through 12 how to set savings goals, keep track of their accounts and other money concepts via a fun and interactive learning platform!

Chemical Financial Corporation is the largest banking company headquartered and operating branch offices in Michigan. The corporation operates through its subsidiary bank, Chemical Bank, with 249 banking offices located primarily in Michigan, northeast Ohio and northern Indiana.

On March 31, the corporation had total assets of $17.64 billion. Chemical Financial Corporation’s common stock trades on The NASDAQ stock market under the symbol CHFC and is one of the issuers comprising The NASDAQ Global Select Market and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. More information about the Corporation is available by visiting the investor relations section of its website at chemicalbank.com. Member FIDC, Equal Housing Lender.