Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Participates In Teach Children To Save Day
(BAR HARBOR, ME) April 16, 2008 - Twelve Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees will be teaching savings lessons to students at local elementary schools over the next two weeks as part of the American Bankers Association Education Foundation's 12th annual National Teach Children to Save Day to be celebrated on April 29.
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees Margie Gray, Brenda Condon, Mikey Bannister, Colleen Maynard, Prescilla Harper, Debbie Mitchell-Dow, Ivy Heal, Lisa Parsons, Marcia Bender, Lisa Veazie, Becky Kent and Mischelle Adams will teach savings lessons to students in Blue Hill, Tremont, Bar Harbor, Rockland, Ellsworth, Mt. Desert, Deer Isle and Bangor. These lessons will help enhance the financial literacy of more than 200 local school children.
"Studies show that kids aren't learning the skills they need to make smart financial decisions as adults," said Joe Murphy, President of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. "Communities and schools teach other life skills, such as driving a car, but we don't spend enough time teaching financial skills. Therefore, our employees are reaching out to the schools to help fill the gap and prepare today's youth for financial success as adults."
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers these tips to help parents make every day "Savings Day:"
Help your children open up their own bank savings account and make deposits regularly.
Children love to get mail, so encourage them to keep an eye out for their bank statement, or sign up for on-line banking so they can see their account information on-line.
Talk to your children about your family's budget. Include a discussion about 'wants' versus 'needs' and reinforce these ideas by budgeting for a family vacation or major purchase.
Explain to your children how an ATM machine really works. You must first put money in your bank account before you can get it out.
For more information on financial literacy that parents can share with their children, go to
Founded in 1887, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is a community bank with 12 locations along the coast of Maine. They offer a full range of financial services and products for families, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is subsidiary of Bar Harbor Bankshares (AMEX:BHB). For more information call 207-288-3314 or go to www.bhbt.com.
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Dressed in red, Debbie Mitchell-Dow, branch relationship manager at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, teaches Mrs. Hurd's sixth grade students at Conners-Emerson School in Bar Harbor how to save money by spending wisely as part of National Teach Children to Save Day being celebrated on April 29.
