OSBC Sponsored Financial Education
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner assists the following agencies in their efforts to educate and provide financial literacy programs to Kansas consumers of all ages.
JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades 6-12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. JAG-K students are selected to join their local program if they identify with at least five different barriers to success that are recognized by JAG National standards. These barriers are broken down into academic, environmental, physical and psychological, and work-related categories.
JAG-K teaches young people career and leadership skills, provides work-based learning opportunities, and helps them earn credentials, gain employment , and enter postsecondary training and education. One of the main tenets of JAG-K is financial literacy. The organization teaches students about sound financial practices and offers participants an opportunity to engage in a financial literacy competition each spring.
To learn more about JAG-K, visit www.jagkansas.org, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.
In 1999, the Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) established the Kansas Bankers Education Foundation (KBEF) with the goal of educating those interested in pursuing a career in the banking industry and to help educate non bankers about the important role banks play in their communities. To accomplish these goals, KBEF has established its mission and objectives as follows:
- Enhance the Kansas Banking Industry’s Image
- Implement a Workforce Development Strategy to Attract the Next Generation of Banking Professionals
- Establish Banker Supported Sponsorship, Scholarship, and Endowment Opportunities
- Promote Financial Literacy
Trust Officer – https://vimeo.com/801733790
IT Officer – https://vimeo.com/801733344
All Three – https://vimeo.com/801732832
Ag Officer – https://vimeo.com/801731772
Code Word Campaign – https://vimeo.com/918408198
Kansas Council for Economic Education works with individual teachers to help integrate more economic and personal finance concepts into their existing curriculum. Through economic and financial literacy education, Kansas students will become more knowledgeable consumers, wise savers and investors, more responsible citizens and better employees. The following programs are available FREE to Kansas schools through support from the OSBC.
The Personal Finance Challenge is an engaging competition for students learning about personal finance in the classroom. Working as individuals and on teams, students will be tested on their knowledge of facts and terms relating to finances. Spending & Credit, Saving & Investing, and Income & Money Management are the topics for each round. High scoring teams from the preliminary rounds will be invited to compete at the in-person state competition in the spring.
The Personal Finance Challenge is available to middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students.
The Pando Initiative connects with students to help them engage and thrive in education and their future. By helping students take responsibility for their lives, they develop attitudes, skills and motivation necessary to THRIVE.
Reality U brings a bit of “reality” to students through a 75-minute interactive and engaging personal finance simulation. Students imagine their life as a 26-year-old and complete an online lifestyle survey. This information is entered into The Pando Initiative’s trademarked software, along with their current GPA, to create a unique and individualized future scenario. Each scenario includes the student’s monthly income, credit card debt, student loan information, as well as marital and family status. Students are given a checkbook register to track their monthly purchases from the 12 booths representing services and/or products that adults typically must purchase or consider each month. Sometimes they must return a “purchase” and make a different decision. The checkbook register can’t fall below zero!
This event actively engages students to help them understand the importance of how their performance in school today impacts their future. It also provides the community an opportunity to share in local students’ learning and developing an understanding of the world of work.
Mirror, Inc. was established as a not-for-profit private corporation in Kansas in 1972 and is a leader in the behavioral health field. Mirror, Inc. provides prevention and treatment services throughout Kansas, with thirteen program locations. Their programs reach over 6,000 Kansans each year.
The Mirror, Inc Work for Success Program in Lawrence and Topeka feature the Personal and Professional Development (PPD) Curriculum which is designed to inspire participants to realize their dreams and achieve self-sufficiency by providing hope, resources, and a plan. Mirror, Inc. believes in the value and potential of each individual, and this program will maximize individual talents, skills and the unique passions each client brings to their community and to their family. Not only will clients learn how to get a job, they will develop skills to keep that job and to continue moving forward. The Work for Success program provides services to unemployed and underemployed parents of minor children. One component of the Work for Success Program is financial literacy. The program has partnered with HCCI, Inc. since 2014 to provide financial literacy classes to program participants. These classes are important to the participants as many do not understand how to properly budget and many need credit counseling to get back on their feet. Participants work on creating a realistic budget, making a plan to reduce or eliminate personal debt, and are given tools for obtaining and maintaining employment. Their program case manager works with each participant to identify both a short-term and a long-term financial goal. The short-term financial goal should be completed by the end of the four-week training course. The long-term goal should be achieved within three months of the participant gaining employment. The case manager will track employment status and goal status for each participant.
For more information about Mirror, Inc. and the Work for Success Program visit their website at https://www.mirrorinc.org/.
Founded in 2019 and based in Topeka, Omni Circle Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap and fostering minority entrepreneurship. Since its inception, OCG has been instrumental in providing educational programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities to underrepresented communities. The organization has built a robust ecosystem that not only supports individual growth but also fosters community development.
Current Programs and Activities:
- Omni R.I.S.E. (Resources and Investment for Sustainable Equity): Provides essential financial education, resources, and asset-building opportunities to promote sustainable economic growth and equity.
- FastTrac and Emerge Community Business Academy: Eight- and 12-week programs, respectively, that equip early- and mid-stage entrepreneurs with the financial knowledge and skills necessary to create successful businesses and create community wealth.
- Connection, Collaboration, and Creation Pillars: These pillars support individuals by meeting basic needs, fostering personal and professional development, and empowering community entrepreneurship. These programs collectively support Omni Circle’s mission by offering comprehensive support aimed at fostering economic empowerment and equity, through initiatives such as financial education courses for youth and adults, one-on-one financial counseling, VITA free tax preparation, credit-building initiatives, and micro-loans for women and minority entrepreneurs.
Kansas State University (Powercat Financial)
Powercat Financial originated in 2009 and trains and supports Peer Financial Counselors who conduct group financial workshops in for-credit classrooms and one-on-one financial counseling appointments for students across Kansas State University. In response to the high school financial literacy graduation requirement, Powercat Financial extended its reach to include the broader community beginning in 2023. Powercat Financial has expanded its programming to support high school teachers who currently, or in the future will, teach personal finance throughout the State of Kansas. Grant funding was provided to help cover costs associated with providing 12 total hours of Personal Finance Professional Development for personal finance teachers at each of the 406 high schools throughout the State of Kansas before the personal finance graduation requirement goes into effect beginning in August 2026.
Request an OSBC Speaker
The Office of the State Bank Commissioner has staff available to present general information about our office, scope of regulation, and consumer services we provide. A Subject Matter Expert may also be able to present information on specific topics within the OSBC jurisdiction. Please use our Speaker Request Form to provide details about your event
