Cunniff Students Get a Lesson in Finance from Cambridge Bank

Kindergartners at Cunniff Elementary School got a special lesson on May 10 when Cambridge Savings Bank brought its CSBsmart Financial Education Program to the school as part of the initiative “Teach Children to Save.”

In the program financial educators from Cambridge Savings Bank provide an easy-to-understand lesson on saving, value, price, and generosity for all the kindergartners at Cunniff.

“Cambridge Savings Bank believes that it is important to provide financial education to children early on in their development,” said Susan Lapierre, senior vice president of community relations and Community Reinvestment Act officer for Cambridge Savings Bank in a release. “The aim of CSBsmart is to contribute to the economic development of the communities Cambridge Savings Bank serves. The Banks commitment to teach the basics of finances, regardless of age or background, is an integral part of our mission as a community bank.”

The children got an introduction to savings when they were read "Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock," an entertaining and educational book written by FDIC chair Sheila Bair.

A copy of the book was donated to the Cuniff School library. The children also received a colorful coin chart, $1 in coins, and a CSB piggy-bank. Finally, the students discussed generosity, in light of a recent donations to the Japan relief effort by Cuniff School students last week.

Recent studies point to the advantages of beginning to teach children about savings early in life, according to bank officias. The visit is part of Cambridge Savings Bank's effort which will touch 1,000 children in Massachusetts during April and May. April was national “Teach Children to Save” month.

“Teach Children to Save,” is a nation-wide effort of the American Banking Association, and is part of Cambridge Savings Bank’s broader financial education program CSBsmart.

For more information, please visit www.cambridgesavings.com, and click on the CSBsmart tab to view the recently launched CSBsmart section of the bank’s website which features additional resources for program participants as well as members of the public.