Financial Education Fair Held at Rogers High School

On April 4, 2013, one hundred seniors from Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island  participated in a Financial Education Fair, the culminating event to a series of financial literacy presentations conducted by BankNewport during the 2012-2013 academic school year.  The Fair was held in the Rogers High School gymnasium.

A highly interactive simulation, the Fair placed students through a realistic budgeting experience, presenting them with a series of “real life” spending decisions.  Guests in attendance to celebrate the students’ success included Rhode Island General Treasurer, Gina Raimondo, BankNewport President and CEO, Sandra Pattie, Mayor of Newport, Honorable Henry Winthrop, and Rhode Island House Representative, Honorable Linda Finn (District 72). 

The Fair provided students with the opportunity to put into practice what they learned in the classroom and to interact with local businesses as consumers based on their chosen careers and corresponding monthly income.  

Local businesses joining BankNewport at the Fair included Best Buy, Bridge to Fitness, Community College of Rhode Island, Continental Travel Agency, Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, Hyundai of Newport, Karen’s Hair Design, Money Management International, Ocean Point Insurance Agency, Inc., Potter League for Animals, Salve Regina University, and Stop and Shop of Middletown.

BankNewport announced its partnership with Rogers High School to sponsor the financial literacy program back in November 2012.  The program was developed to complement the high school's personal financial education initiative for students.  

Monthly classroom presentations conducted by BankNewport's management team introduced students to strategies for selecting and developing a successful career, the benefits of establishing savings and checking accounts, a demonstration of electronic banking services, a review of financial planning and saving for the future, the types and sources of credit, ways to establish good credit, and the importance of monthly budgeting.  Bank representatives provided basic information on these topics to help the students increase their understanding of the importance of managing their personal finances in order to be prepared for the financial challenges and lifestyle decisions they will face as adults. 

BankNewport, founded in 1819 and currently holding $1.1 billion in assets, is an FDIC-insured savings bank and is a subsidiary of the Mutual Holding Company, OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC.  Along with its financial partner, OceanPoint Insurance Agency, Inc., BankNewport is proud to serve the financial needs of customers from banking and insurance offices located throughout southeastern New England.