BELOIT — First National Bank and Trust Company (FNBT) announced that it is sponsoring the EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee, taking place April 1-15. The EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee is a nationwide financial literacy challenge for high school students.

As families across the country are struggling financially in the wake of the pandemic, from unemployment to career shifts to a reduction in income, the EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee provides an opportunity for students to learn the critical importance of saving and budgeting for short-term and long-term financial goals.

“In these times of financial uncertainty for many, First National Bank and Trust is especially committed to engaging our communities, increasing financial literacy, and driving impactful change,” said Theresa Wendhausen, Branding and Communications Manager at FNBT. “We are proud to be supporting parents and students at this time through the Financial Literacy Bee and hope it will help drive conversations about important financial topics among family members.”

By competing in the challenge, participating students will gain new skills to create a personalized financial decision-making framework that they can apply to their lives now and in the future. Topics include how to save, set financial goals, budget and invest.

“The pandemic has shone a bright light on the financial vulnerability of most Americans, with 40% of American consumers reporting that they had trouble paying at least one bill or expense in 2020,” said Ray Martinez, co-founder and president, EVERFI. “We’ve always been committed to helping students increase their financial literacy, and during this historic time, we are also working to help parents feel more comfortable having dinner-table conversations about money. The Financial Literacy Bee is a fun way for students to learn important strategies to increase savings.”

In addition to supporting the EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee, FNBT works with EVERFI to provide schools-based financial education across southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois as well as adult financial education to help consumers navigate financial uncertainty and plan for the future. To learn more about the EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee, visit https://bankatfirstnational.everfi-next.net/welcome/national-financial-bee-2021.