In 2005, recognizing the importance of the financial stability
of ex-offenders and their families, the U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern
District of Missouri became an Alliance Partner with the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the presentation of the Money Smart Program to
the ex-offender population and their families.
The Money Smart Program is a training program to help adults outside the
financial mainstream enhance their money skills and create positive banking
relationships and stop predatory lending.
The purpose of the Financial Education Program is to ensure that
low-income offenders and their families receive the financial education and
services necessary to end the cycle of poverty.
Financial education fosters financial stability for individuals and for entire
communities. The more people know about credit and banking services, the more
likely they are to increase savings, buy homes, and improve their financial
health and well being. The Money Smart curriculum helps individuals build
financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use legitimate banking
services effectively.
“Financial education is not only the key to helping people enter the financial
mainstream and achieve their economic dreams, it also is one answer to the
poverty and despair that lead some individuals to turn to crime,” said Lee
Bowman, the FDIC’s Chief of Community Affairs. “The FDIC takes great pride in
knowing that our Money Smart financial education program is helping to motivate
at-risk individuals to improve the quality of life for themselves, their
families and their communities.”
The program will be two, two-hour classroom sessions that will cover the
following:
• An introduction to banking services
• An introduction to credit and credit reports
• How to choose and keep a checking account
• Why saving is so important
• How to make a credit card work for you
• What home ownership is all about
• and, referrals to legitimate banking institutions
If you are interested in attending this class, please contact
Senior U.S. Probation Officer Tom Bauer at 314-244-6700.