First Horizon Bank Teaches Nearly 8,700 Students About Saving and Budgeting in 2026 Program

First Horizon Bank announced that its 2026 Teach Children to Save program served nearly 8,700 students across multiple states, reaching children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The program is run in collaboration with the American Bankers Association Foundation. Bank associates visited classrooms to teach age-appropriate lessons on savings, budgeting, and responsible spending.

The announcement came during National Financial Literacy Month in April 2026, which the White House recognized with a presidential message encouraging Americans to take control of their financial futures.

Financial literacy remains a significant challenge in the United States. A 2025 survey found that U.S. adults answered only 49 percent of questions correctly on the TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, a level that has remained flat for nine years. Only 27 percent of Americans passed FINRA's seven-question financial capability quiz.

The education system is not adequately addressing the gap. The average high school student receives only about 18 hours of personal finance instruction over four years. Many state mandates for financial literacy lack rigor, proper teacher training, or sufficient funding.

Financial illiteracy is not evenly distributed. Women, Black and Hispanic adults, and Gen Z score lower than men, White and Asian adults, and older generations on financial literacy assessments.

The American Bankers Association Foundation also released a guide in 2026 encouraging nonprofits to partner with banks to design and deliver financial literacy programs. The guide outlines strategies for building effective collaborations that reach underserved communities.

First Horizon said it plans to expand the program in 2027, with a goal of reaching more than 10,000 students.