ASB financial literacy programme GetWise reaches 800,000

Less than ten years since ASB launched its financial literacy programme ASB GetWise, more than 800,000 children from schools across New Zealand have signed up.

The programme was set up in 2010 to help educate kids about money management, saving and financial decisions.

On Friday morning, Glen Eden Intermediate School's room 33 class celebrated having the 800,000th student to register for the programme; a milestone ASB head of community and sponsorship Mark Graham says is momentous.

"When we started ASB GetWise, our goal was to reach as many students as we could, and to raise the financial literacy level of young Kiwis. Eight years on and having reached that 800,000 milestone, I think we can confidently say we have made a difference," he says.

Glen Eden Intermediate principal Maree Stavert says Kiwi kids' perception of money has changed significantly over the years, making financial education a fundamental tool for their success.

"The teaching of financial literacy to students has an ever increasing importance as the physical presence of money disappears into our digital world," she says.

"The ASB GetWise programme is vital for teaching Kiwi kids essential life skills that will hopefully empower the next generation to live well and achieve their dreams."

The lessons are designed to complement the New Zealand school curriculum and teach practical money-smart skills that students can use every day to make better financial decisions.

Independent, trained facilitators deliver interactive workshops that have been mapped against the New Zealand school curriculum, and designed in collaboration with experts in primary education.

Teachers are also given resource packs to help them provide ongoing financial literacy lessons in the classroom, at their own pace.

By the end of last month, ASB GetWise had visited a total of 1,549 schools nationwide, representing 61 per cent of all schools in New Zealand and 72 per cent of primary and intermediate schools.

"We're passionate about helping Kiwi kids learn important money management skills while they're young," Graham says. "These skills will help set them up for a solid financial future and enable them to progress and achieve their goals."

Primary and intermediate schools can sign up to the ASB GetWise financial literacy programme by visiting getwise.co.nz, calling 0508 GetWise or by emailing support@getwise.co.nz

For more information please visit asb.co.nz/GetWise.

ASB GetWise in numbers

• More than 800,000 students have registered for ASB GetWise sessions
• 1,549 schools in total visited by July 2018, 1,393 of which are primary or intermediate
  
• This represents 61 per cent of all schools and 72 per cent of primary and intermediate
• In the last year, there have been 3,877 sessions at 466 schools with more than 97,000 students
  

About ASB GetWise

ASB GetWise was launched in 2010 and is New Zealand's largest youth financial literacy programme.

A long‐term multi‐million dollar commitment by ASB, the programme aims to help raise the financial literacy of New Zealand school children by delivering free workshops to primary and intermediate students, focused on teaching basic money management and savings skills at an early age.

Facilitators are based in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, with annual 'roadshows' taking ASB GetWise further afield, visiting schools throughout the country.