PITTSFIELD – As children return to school, Greylock Federal Credit Union would like to remind all families and teachers that Greylock provides free access to Banzai, an online financial literacy program. This cutting-edge program integrates interactive classroom materials with professional presentations to develop personal finance skills.
The award-winning online program and content library allows students to learn by doing. All students, teachers, and members in Berkshire County, Westfield, Southwick, Granville, Montgomery and Russell, Massachusetts and Columbia County, New York can create a free online account.
“These resources make a huge impact on students and their families by building a solid foundation of basic financial skills and real-world knowledge of personal finances,” said Greylock Vice President Director of Community Development, Cindy Shogry-Raimer. “Greylock is grateful to be able to provide free access to this critical curriculum.”
Through the Banzai online courses and complimentary lesson plans, students may practice managing a budget, saving for a goal, and dealing with unexpected financial pitfalls. Teachers are able to easily monitor and grade student progress remotely. Other resources include articles, calculators, coaching sessions, and customized classroom wrap-up Zoom sessions with Greylock experts. These tools cover everything from the basics of filing your taxes to how health insurance works. Teachers can learn more and access these classroom resources at http://greylock.teachbanzai.com/. Members can access the tools directly through Greylock’s Community Empowerment Center at https://www.greylock.org/community-empowerment-center.html.
Last school year, Melissa Cairns used Banzai with her North Adams Public School’s Honors 7th grade math class. She scheduled "Financial Fridays" when each student would get virtual paychecks, maintain a check register, and have "fate cards" to represent real life scenarios where they may earn or lose money. “Banzai is a great addition, making learning real-world, informing the activities we already have planned, and supporting their overall financial literacy,” said Ms. Cairns. “Thank you, Greylock! I'm proud to be a Member and so appreciative of your contribution of Banzai, yet another way Greylock truly is a community supporter!”
About Greylock
Greylock membership is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school, worships or regularly conducts business in Berkshire County, the towns of Westfield, Southwick, Granville, Montgomery, and Russell, Massachusetts, Bennington County, VT or Columbia County, NY. Greylock Federal is wholly owned by its more than 93,000 members and offers full-service branches in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, Lee, Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Lanesborough, and Lenox, Massachusetts and Greenport/Hudson, New York. Greylock has a Low-Income Designation (LID) from the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) and certification by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund allowing the Credit Union to offer expanded services to low and moderate income families. More information is available at www.greylock.org.
Greylock’s family of businesses includes:
Greylock Insurance Agency, with six locations in Berkshire County and two in Westfield, MA, handles personal and commercial lines including auto, homeowner’s, life, disability, long-term care insurance, all forms of bonding, and 24/7 claims service.
Greylock Investment Group offers access to a full array of services including financial and retirement planning, investment management, mutual funds, annuities and portfolio management.
Greylock Technology Group provides programming and IT consulting for financial institutions.