Ulster Bank – Making finance fun for second level students through MoneySense for Schools

Year:ulster-bank

2013

 

Company Description:
Ulster Bank Group is one of Ireland’s largest banks and a subsidiary of RBS group.  Across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank Group employs 5,800 staff and delivers a range of financial services to over 1.9 million customers through its branch, telephone and online channels.

 

Business Issue: 

Long-term, it makes good business sense to help people manage money and become capable financial consumers. We believe the best place to start is with young people and that every child deserves to leave school knowing how to manage money, budget effectively and save for the future.  As finance experts, we see real benefits in supporting schools to deliver financial education.

 

Solution Applied:

Ulster Bank Group developed MoneySense for Schools in collaboration with teachers and education experts.  It is Ireland’s largest financial education resource with over 40 hours of interactive lessons delivered online – case studies, simulations, videos and quizzes – designed to make learning about finance fun and engaging for teenagers.

MoneySense covers banking, budgeting, saving, borrowing, starting a business and preparing for the world of work.  It is mapped to the curriculum across Business Studies, Maths, Home Economics, LCA and LCVP.  Teachers can deliver MoneySense independently or have lessons delivered by an Ulster Bank MoneySense volunteer.  Ulster Bank has 300 employees trained to support lesson delivery and share their banking expertise to enrich student learning.

The programme is free to all teachers and schools at www.ulsterbank.ie/moneysenseforschools

 

 Company Benefits:

  • Improves perceptions of Ulster Bank as a socially responsible business investing in educating people about money and finance.
  • Provides opportunities for employees to develop their communication and presentation skills, build their confidence and become more aware of financial education as a social issue.
  • Provides an opportunity for the bank to build trust with external stakeholders.

 

Stakeholder Benefits:

  • Supports teachers and schools in delivering financial education linked to the curriculum.
  • Makes a positive contribution to financial literacy – equipping young people with the skills they will need to lead financially healthy lives as independent adults.
  • It meets a demand from parents. 80% of Irish parents state that it is very important teens are taught about money management at school.

 

Challenges:

Reaching teachers and schools in business hours and a crowded curriculum.

 

Tip:  

Build teacher engagement through trusted third parties (e.g. their representative associations) and use teachers as champions to gain the confidence and trust of their peers.

 

Departments Involved:  

Bank-wide initiative.

 

Solution Champion:  

Pauline McKiernan, Sustainability & Community Affairs Manager. Email: pauline.mckiernan@ulsterbank.com