Wells Fargo & Company announced today that it has launched Hands on Banking for Military to address the financial literacy challenges facing military members, veterans and their families.
Hands on Banking for Military is designed to address military members’ unique needs at every stage of their career. The program presents 10 individual lesson topics ranging from the basics of banking to planning for retirement.
“Many military members and their families face unique challenges that put them at a financial disadvantage, including deployments and moving around every few years,” said Brian McCullough, Wells Fargo Military Affairs program manager. “These men and women sacrifice their lives for us. The very least we can do is give them the right financial tools to help them through these transitions. They have been there for us. We want to be there for them.”
Wells Fargo has joined forces with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) to bring Hands on Banking for Military to service members in the continental United States. Through close to 700 locations across the country, NFCC’s Member Agencies will teach local Hands on Banking for Military classes. In addition to the group education designed to keep military personnel and their families on a path to financial stability, more than NFCC 2200 agency counselors will provide one-on-one personalized financial reviews, budget planning and concrete solutions to pressing financial concerns.
Military and veteran groups wishing to have a representative teach a class, or individuals interested in scheduling a session with a financial specialist can contact the NFCC at (855) 374-2773.
“The NFCC is honored to have been selected by Wells Fargo as their partner for this program to bring financial education and solutions to generations of servicemen and women,” said Susan C. Keating, president and CEO of the NFCC. “This opportunity to provide financial freedom to those who have protected our freedom is indeed an initiative the NFCC and its Member Agencies across the country are proud to be a part of.”
Wells Fargo also has banking locations on nine bases across the country and plans to offer Hands on Banking for Military at these locations. Additionally, Wells Fargo has thousands of Wells Fargo team members who participate in Team Member Networks nationwide. The Veterans’ Team Member Network’s mission is to support and educate members of our Wells Fargo community who share an interest in veteran matters. The network plans to help teach Hands on Banking for Military and work with other team members and the community to promote greater veteran awareness.
Hands on Banking for Military is part of a broader Wells Fargo effort supporting military service members and veterans: helping active duty military service members and veterans achieve homeownership, helping veterans transition to civilian careers and providing customized financial education.
Hands on Banking for Military is an HTML-based course and is located at www.handsonbanking.org. The new HTML- based Hands on Banking courses contain the same trusted content as the Flash-based classic courses, but in a format that is designed for optimal experience on tablets and smartphones. The HTML courses also use the latest adaptive technology to ensure the program is available to users with differing abilities. In 2012, Wells Fargo delivered financial education lessons to 153,902 people and distributed 31,000 HOB CDs to schools and organizations all over the world.