County Bank Brings Financial Literacy Lessons to Cape Elementary Students Through “Teach Children to Save” Program

Third and fourth grade students at Love Creek Elementary School, Lewes Elementary School, and Milton Elementary School recently participated in an interactive financial literacy presentation led by representatives from County Bank as part of a Teach Children to Save initiative.

Coordinated by Yanina Emerick, Chief Compliance Officer at County Bank, and members of the County Bank team, the presentation focused on helping students understand the importance of saving money and how savings accounts can help money grow over time. Using comic book characters and engaging storytelling, presenters introduced students to the “5 Tools of Savings” while guiding them through hands-on demonstrations and real-life scenarios. Student volunteers participated by “earning” money, represented by plastic balls, through activities such as cleaning, walking the dog, and receiving birthday gifts.

One of the most memorable demonstrations compared two different ways of saving money. One student kept their “money” under their bed, while another deposited their money into a bank savings account. As the activity continued, the student using the bank savings account received additional plastic balls representing interest earned on their savings. By the end of the demonstration, that student had accumulated noticeably more plastic balls, helping students visually understand how saving money in a bank and earning interest over time can help savings grow.

“We want students to understand at an early age that saving money is an important life skill,” said Yanina Emerick. “By making the lessons interactive and relatable, we hope students leave feeling confident and excited about making smart financial decisions in the future.”

The presentations encouraged students to consider what it means to be financially responsible in a fun and engaging way. “We are grateful to County Bank for partnering with us to provide this meaningful opportunity for our scholars,” said Mrs. Equetta Jones, principal of Love Creek Elementary. “Experiences like this help scholars begin developing important financial literacy skills at an early age. The hands-on demonstration and engaging skit made the learning both memorable and fun.”