COUNTRY BANK PARTNERS WITH JA TO TEACH BANKING TO WARE JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

November 18, 2009

[WARE, MA] Jodie Gerulaitis, Financial Education Officer for Country Bank piloted JA Bank on It, to Ware Junior Senior High School students in Mr. Gene Rich’s Personal Finance class beginning Monday, November 2^nd. Ms. Pattianne Mitchell, Country Bank, First Vice President and Ms. Gerulaitis developed the program with Jennifer Connolly, President of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts. “Our goal is to teach students at the High School level the skills necessary to handle their own finances responsibly. The students will gain hands on experience regarding managing a checking account, online banking, electronic bill payment and a host of other services they will need as young adults” said Jodie Gerulaitis.

JA Bank on It introduces students to the importance of making wise financial decisions. The program demonstrates the value of planning, goal-setting, and thoughtful decision-making within the context of personal financial decisions. Students will examine the role money plays in achieving lifelong personal goals, learn how a financial institution operates as a profitable business, develop the tools to make informed financial decisions, and learn how to protect themselves against identity theft and avoid financial pitfalls.

Country Bank has been serving the community since 1850, and has one of the largest school banking programs in the commonwealth. “Country Bank has been a Junior Achievement supporter for over two decades because the Bank and its employees are committed to help teach the youth in our community the fundamentals of financial literacy including saving and investing. We are very fortunate to be able to work with Country Bank to develop a program specifically designed to educate high school students about the importance of banking,” noted Jennifer Connolly, President of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts.

To find out more about Junior Achievement, call (413) 747-7670 or email jawesternma@jawm.org .

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development.