At Northern Bank, we have always been committed to sharing our time and resources with the people in our community. One way we lend our support throughout the year is by providing education and expertise in important areas, such as Financial Literacy, that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

This year, as part of our ongoing effort to increase our presence and participation in the Lowell community, our employees volunteered to provide financial literacy modules with the FDIC Money Smart program, to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Project Learn, Butler Middle School STEAM night, Lowell Housing Authority and Lowell Senior Center. In addition to the financial literacy presentations, our employee volunteers assisted Lowell residents with tax preparation and filing through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Community Teamwork.

In an effort to arm our local youth with the financial tools they need to build a solid financial foundation, our Accounting and Finance teams have been volunteering in the business classroom at Somerville High School, where they present the Junior Achievement program, “Take Stock in Your Future.” Take Stock in Your Future introduces high school students to the stock market. This learning experience includes two components: a classroom curriculum, and for many participants, the JA Stock Market Challenge competition.

We also recently expanded our financial literacy efforts by adding two Credit for Life Reality fairs. These employee driven events took place March 5^th at Somerville High School with 33 employees and March 18^th with 41 employees at Malden High School. Credit for Life fairs are fun and interactive with hands-on simulations that teach high school students how to budget, save, and make real-world financial decisions.

Helping older adults navigate important financial decisions is another area where we focus our time and efforts. This year, our partnership with four Senior Centers –– Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, and Melrose –– has continued. Our employees volunteer to present the FDIC – Money Smart for Older Adults Program, which raises awareness among older adults and their caregivers on how to prevent fraud, scams, and other elder financial exploitation. The curriculum encourages advanced planning and informed financial decision-making. Money Smart for Older Adults was developed jointly by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).