West Shore Bank helps LHS students understand financing. 

West Shore Bank helps LHS students understand financing. 

LUDINGTON — West Shore Bank is helping Ludington High School students understand financing by underwriting the teen-targeted personal finance curriculum developed by Dave Ramsey.

“Foundations in Personal Finance” is being offered free of charge to Ludington High School. It exposes students to the basics of personal finance as espoused by author and radio personality Dave Ramsey and is considered a premier curriculum for teaching financial literacy to students.

“As a local community bank, we have a special responsibility to help build strong communities,” said Raymond Biggs, president and CEO of West Shore Bank. “One of the ways we can do that is by helping students develop good financial habits in their formative years.”

The Ramsey curriculum is the latest example of West Shore Bank’s resolve to make financial education part of its mission, but far from the only one.

• School Bank. Run by West Shore Bank volunteers since 1993, School Bank taught elementary students in Mason and Manistee counties the basics of banking and money management. Students served as tellers for their classmates, a fun way to incorporate financial education into the school day. The Bank is currently researching new ways to teach students in a more technologically-savvy way in the future.

• Library outreach. West Shore Bank has conducted free seminars at area libraries on topics like financial planning, identity theft and raising money-smart kids.

• Senior center outreach. Free seminars are also held periodically at area senior centers. Past topics include elder financial abuse, online banking safety and cyber security.

• Individual consultations. Need advice on reducing debt, retirement planning or business loans? It’s available free from West Shore Bank, which sees such personal attention as a cornerstone of community banking.

• Business scholarships. Each year, West Shore Bank grants scholarships to area students planning to study business at West Shore Community College, a way to invest in the next generation of financial leaders.

“The financial literacy of children and adults is paramount to the future success of our community,” Biggs said. “Teaching is central to our role as community bankers.”

West Shore Bank representatives recently visited the Ludington High School class taught by Jennifer Rowe.  According to one student, “In this class, we have learned a lot about important things to do to be successful after high school – including how to save, budget and avoid debt.”  The curriculum emphasizes the importance of starting to save at an early age.  “This class has taught me a lot about my future life outside of school and it has already made me think of how I spend my money and what I spend it on.  It will also help me start my own budget so I can be smart with my money,” stated another student.

“We know learning how to make good financial decisions while you’re young can make a tremendous difference in your future,” states Debra Kinnaird, West Shore Bank’s Vice President Regional Retail Manager.  “We enjoy connecting with young people in our schools and communities to help them develop these smart financial habits.”

For more information on financial education programs available through West Shore Bank, contact Debra Kinnaird, VP regional retail manager, at 888-295-4373 or e-mail debrak@westshorebank.com.