Economic Education Programs

The Bank provides educational programs for middle school and high school students, and for a variety of adult audiences including: teachers; college students; business groups; bankers; and community organizations. The Bank does not offer tours of its operations.

Educational programs are presented at the Boston Fed. We encourage groups to enhance their visit to the Boston Fed by including the interactive New England Economic Adventure.
In certain circumstances, a Boston Fed speaker can make a presentation off-site.

Educational Programs Offered:

Banking Basics (Grades 5-12)
This program is an introduction to banking for beginners. Topics include: the main functions of banks; typical bank accounts; deposit insurance; and compound interest.
Consumer Savvy (Adult)
This program is designed for adults who actively use bank accounts and credit cards. It highlights useful consumer information on banking, credit, and identity theft.
Currency and Counterfeits (Grades 5-12, Adult)
This program describes the production, distribution, and anti-counterfeiting security features of U.S. currency. The program compares images of genuine currency with examples of counterfeit money, and outlines the history of paper money in the U.S.
Federal Reserve System Overview (Grades 9-12, College, Adult)
This program addresses why the Federal Reserve was established, and describes the Fed’s structure and its responsibilities as the central bank of the U.S. The Federal Reserve sets monetary policy, serves as a supervisor for the banking system, and provides a variety of financial services to the Federal government and depository institutions.
Introduction to Monetary Policy (Grades 11-12, College, Adult)
This program takes a deeper look into the Fed’s most publicized role—monetary policy. It describes traditional and innovative tools the Fed uses to help foster both economic growth and price stability, in the context of current economic conditions.
Money Matters for Young Adults (Grades 11-12, College)
This program is designed for audiences who are not very experienced using credit cards. It addresses some basic money management challenges facing beginners, including budgeting, establishing credit, and building a good credit history.
Teacher Workshops (Educators at all levels)
Teachers in group of 10 or more may request a Teachers Workshop to discuss economic education materials and methods. A two-hour workshop can be adapted to meet the needs of the audience and grade levels taught.

Scheduling a Program

If you would like to schedule a program, please contact us at (617) 973-3464 or e-mail us.
Use this spreadsheet to supply each visitor’s first name, last name, and school/group name. (The Bank will fill in the rest of the information.) Please submit this spreadsheet by e-mail at least two weeks before your visit to the Bank. Your scheduled program will be cancelled if the Bank does not receive this visitor list.
Adults (including college students) must show a valid government-issued photo ID to enter the Bank. A valid ID is a driver’s license or passport, not a college or work ID.
Only teachers and chaperones are required to show valid government-issued ID when the group consists of high school or middle school students.
Programs are scheduled for weekdays no earlier than 9:30 A.M.
Groups are allowed to enter the building 15 minutes before their scheduled program to go through security. You walk through the metal detector. Bags, phones, etc. are X-rayed.
If a group arrives more than 15 minutes late, the group’s program may be cancelled at the discretion of the Bank.
Please notify us in advance if a member of your group has special needs. The Bank has assistive listening devices for the hearing impaired and is fully wheelchair accessible.
Public parking is not available at the Bank. Directions to the Bank, as well as a list of nearby public parking facilities, are available online. Directions to the Bank can also be obtained by calling (617) 973-FIND.
Public transportation to the Bank is very convenient. The Bank is located directly across the street from South Station (MBTA Red Line, commuter rail, and bus terminal). For more information, call the MBTA at (800) 392-6100 or visit the MBTA's web site.