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FDIC RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY IN CHICAGO LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE MONEY SMART PROGRAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR-67-2001 (9-18-2001)	Media Contact: Rosemary George (202) 898-6530

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pilsen One-Stop Center in Chicago, Illinois to launch its Money Smart financial education program. More than 100 of people attended the 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting, including Commissioner Jackie Edens of the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development and representatives of the Illinois Department of Employment Security and Operation ABLE. "All of us recognize the importance of financial education in fostering financial stability," said FDIC Chairman Donald E. Powell. "An understanding of basic finances and healthy banking relationships benefits both the individual and the community." Money Smart, a joint initiative between the FDIC and the Department of Labor (DOL), offers basic financial education to people participating in Welfare-to-Work and Workforce Investment Act programs across the country. The Money Smart educational materials, developed by the FDIC, will be available through a national network of more than 800 DOL One-Stop Centers. These centers deliver employment and training services to persons seeking new jobs or entering the workforce. Money Smart was also designed to provide an additional way for financial institutions to strengthen their communities. Free copies of the Money Smart training program can be obtained from the FDIC. Money Smart will also be available in Spanish. The Money Smart program being implemented at the Pilsen Center includes four main components: financial education training; low-cost bank services and products; employment opportunities for One-Stop clients; and an evaluation mechanism to measure the program's outcomes. Pilsen will serve as a demonstration site for other One-Stop Centers planning to implement the Money Smart curriculum. The Pilsen Money Smart initiative is a cooperative effort between the FDIC, DOL and 15 partners: Financial Institution Partners Non-Profit Partners Bank of America Center for Law and Human Services Bank One Instituto del Progreso Latinos First Bank of the Americas North Lawndale Employment Network Metropolitan Bank Operation ABLE Universal Federal Savings Resurrection Project Spanish Coalition for Housing West Cluster Service Connector Other Partners Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Internal Revenue Service Mayor's Office of Workforce Development Illinois Department of Employment Security University of Illinois Extension Illinois Department of Human Services For further information about the Money Smart program, or to obtain copies of the materials, contact Community Affairs Officer Michael A. Frias at (312) 382-7506. # # # Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 9,840 banks and savings associations and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed.