I GOT BANK! Brings Generations Together with Smart Savings Planning

Parents, grandparents and teachers looking for an engaging and educational gift for hard-to-buy-for tweens and teens will want to consider the book, I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money, an intergenerational story that will get everyone talking.

Written by OneUnited Bank President and Chief Operating Officer Teri Williams, I Got Bank! is the centerpiece of OneUnited's initiative to promote financial literacy to urban youth. Given the uncertainty surrounding today's economy, financial literacy will play an increasingly important role for our young people. The book tells the story of an African-American boy, Jazz Ellington, whose grandfather sets up a bank account for him and teaches him the importance of saving.

OneUnited bank is offering the book free to any public library or middle school upon request (www.oneunited.com/book).

"The greatest gifts we give our children are those that will teach them and help them live happy, healthy lives. Knowing how to manage money should be among those lessons," said Williams. "The hope is that our children and grandchildren don't experience another economic period like the one we have been struggling through in recent years. But if another recession happens, knowing how to save and manage money will serve the next generation well."

Given alone, or in conjunction with a gift card, savings bond or even cash, I Got Bank! provides adults a great resource to start a discussion about the importance of saving in a way that is relevant to urban youth (targeting 8-12 year olds). The story covers important topics such as bank accounts, credit scores, and interest rates.

"This book should be required curriculum in all urban schools," said Dr. Holly M. Carter, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Chairperson, Department of Education, College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston. "There's a lot for everyone to learn from the story – no matter what the age."

"I wrote the book because helping young people acquire financial literacy skills is a personal passion and mission both for me and for OneUnited Bank," said Williams. "I could not find a similar book about money from the perspective of an urban youth. Yet, when children learn the lessons of financial literacy at a young age, they form strong habits that can be life-changing."

I Got Bank! is published by The Beckham Publications Group, Inc. (www.beckhamhouse.com) and is available through amazon.com. More information on the free book for libraries or middle schools (supplies are limited) is available at www.oneunited.com/book.