AUSTIN BANK PROMOTES NEW “TEACH CHILDREN TO SAVE” PROGRAM
October, 2007

Austin Bank has kicked off “Teach Children to Save” – an educational program dedicated to teaching East Texas elementary students the importance of financial literacy.  Because Austin Bank believes it is never too early to develop good savings habits, the bank will provide resources to area teachers along with contests and prizes for students.

Schools in all communities served by Austin Bank’s 23 locations were invited to participate in “Teach Children to Save”.  Teaching tools and materials were distributed to 72 schools covering 27,816 students attending public and private schools in East Texas.  Included in those schools were 283 kindergarten classes, 272 first grade classes, 270 second grade classes and 248 third grade classes.  Classes were sent 1,073 copies of the books “Bunny Money” by Rosemary Wells and “Dollars and Sense” by Stan and Jan Berenstain to learn about saving.

“We would like this program to help children gain money-management skills and be better prepared to make financial decisions in the future.  All children should be encouraged to save, share and spend wisely as the basics of this program demonstrate,” said Jeff Austin III, Vice Chairman of the Board.

“We want to thank our schools and their teachers for allowing students to participate in the ‘Teach Kids to Save’ program.  We take an active role in the development of financial literacy for the youth of East Texas,” said Austin   “We are also incorporating a little fun while promoting these important principles to help our teachers provide this valuable information.”

The new educational program includes a bank-sponsored coloring contest for students in kindergarten, first, second and third grade. Austin Bank will award a $50 savings bond to one student in each grade from each participating school.  The coloring contest winners will be announced in November by each Austin Bank location and the winners’ colored drawings will be displayed in bank lobbies beginning November 15.

Austin Bank is a community bank with $796 million in assets. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Texas, Austin Bank serves the needs of East Texas families and businesses through 22 locations in nine counties. 


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