Local students are getting a free education in how to manage their money. CCB Community Bank is working with Banzai, a national award-winning financial literacy program, to make curriculum available to six local high schools completely free.

“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said. “But because CCB Community Bank is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free. More than ever, it’s important that kids develop sound financial skills to prepare them for the real world, and CCB Community Bank realizes that and they’re doing something about it.”

Banzai is an interactive, online program supplemented by printed workbooks which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 20,000 teachers and available in all 50 states.

CCB Community Bank has offered time, money, industry experience, and a variety of bank resources to help local schools teach personal finance in the classroom. Students using the program are exposed to real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills and balance a budget – but it’s not always easy. Students must learn to manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs, savings and more.

“Too often students get out of school and they just aren’t ready for the financial roller coasters life can give us,” Vandagriff said. “Banzai teaches students to navigate those twists and turns and come out on top. We’re excited to work with CCB Community Bank to improve financial literacy in their local schools.”

Joy Norris, vice president of marketing at CCB, said the company is contacting local schools to schedule programs for the 2016-17 year.

Teachers interested in using the Banzai program can visit ankccb.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.