Get Smart About Credit Day at UT Arlington Teaches Students Wise Credit Use
On Get Smart About Credit Day, held Oct 16, David Lewis (center) and Bobby Clark (back left) brought good credit practices to the classroom.
October 23—With nearly 75% of U.S. high school seniors lacking basic knowledge about personal finance and 41% of college students using credit cards, bankers are needed in the classroom more than ever. Get Smart About Credit Day is a financial education program sponsored by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation (ABAEF) that helps bankers teach high school and college students the dos and don'ts of wise credit use.
The program came to UT Arlington Oct. 16, bringing Community Affairs Officer David Lewis of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Worthington National Bank Senior Vice President Bobby Clark (BBA ’89) who shared intensive credit lessons with UT Arlington business majors at two finance classes.
“The goal for the Get Smart About Credit program is to help young adults learn how to use credit responsibly,” says Clark. “As a locally owned community bank, Worthington National Bank is participating to show young adults how they can take responsibility for their finances and use credit wisely, right from the start.”
On Get Smart About Credit Day, bankers visit classrooms around the country and bring credit education to life with interactive lessons on account management, credit reports, identity theft and more. Lessons are fueled by the knowledge and experience of bankers. Bankers understand how a positive payment history can help customers achieve their financial dreams. On the other hand, a poor credit report can close doors – to a mortgage, financing a personal business, even a new job.
“The choices young adults make with their personal finances will impact their lives years later when they apply for a car loan or even a mortgage,” said Clark. “Worthington National Bank is participating in the Get Smart About Credit program to show young adults how they can take responsibility for their finances and use credit wisely, right from the start.”
Mr. Clark and Mr. Lewis showcased a new multimedia campaign from the Department of Treasury to educate young adults about credit that includes the interactive website http://www.controlyourcredit.gov/
Get Smart About Credit Day, held the third Thursday of October since 2003, has educated more than 315,000 young adults about real-life credit smarts from 7,660 volunteer bankers.
About the College of Business
One of the largest business schools in the nation, each year the College of Business at UT Arlington provides more than 5,000 future business leaders with an excellent, high quality and affordable education at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The College of Business is home to innovative thinkers who know business - a place where blazing new trails is the norm. Providing an extensive selection of degree programs, the College is nationally recognized as one of the best business schools in the U.S.
