National financial education activities

Austria

Main activities are covered by the Austrian National Financial Literacy Strategy of the Ministry of Finance.

Belgium

Febelfin (the Belgian Financial sector) will launch of a new platform ‘Klasse bank/Banque en classe’ on 17 March 2025:

Klasse Bank / Banque en classe is a rising educational platform of the Belgian financial sector that responds to the social demand for more financial education and skills and shows the commitment of the sector in this domain.
It is an Educational platform aimed at bankers & teachers that includes:

Free guest lectures by (volunteer) bankers (= guest teachers) à automated matching tool
Free teaching material (with reference to banking sector)

There will be a national press launch with a press release. On the French side, the minister of Education will attend a guest lecture.

FSMA (the Belgian Authority of Financial Markets) and Wikifin will organise ‘Week van het Geld’ à Money week from 17 until 23 March (10^th edition)

This theme week aims to highlight the importance of financial education. During this week Wikifin organizes all kinds of activities for education:

For primary schools: budget games and a leaflet with information
Secondary schools: Online Fin Quiz and the Wikifin challenge (students have to plan an educational trip and can win a budget to realise this)

Organisation of a stakeholder event with the presence of European Commission member Maria Luís Albuquerque and representatives of the Belgian federal government, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Pensions, Jan Jambon on 17 March with an invitation for the press.

Bulgaria

ABB will participate for the first time the in European Money Quiz and organize National competition with the partnership of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria;
Lectures delivered by the ABB members to the 8^th and 9^th graders from the high schools, members of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria for the EMQ preparation;
ABB members are going to organize lectures and games in schools during the European Money Week in different cities, e.g. educational lectures on the history of money, personal budget, payments etc.;
Presentations on the educational platform of “Ucha.se” and presentations to groups of young people from SOS Children’s Villages (vulnerable group of children). Training “What to do when you grow up”, in collaboration with the Foundation “FOR Good Examples in Business”, where different banking jobs are going to be presented and topics on financial literacy are going to be discussed;
Together with the “Union of Artists in Bulgaria” and the “Parents” Association, a special performance is going to be created for children from 1st to 5th grade on topics related with finances and money.
Open Day for employees’ children – the aim of that activity is to increase financial literacy of the children through examples of their parents’ jobs.
LinkedIn posts on different topics related with financial education as well as dedicated activities by some of the ABB members, e.g. Financial Innovation Camp.

Czech Republic

European Money Quiz – a pan-European competition whose goal is to improve the financial literacy of 13 to 15-year-old students. The competition in the Czech Republic takes place in two phases. First as a competition within individual classes, then the two best pupils or students from each participating class participates in the national round of the competition. The finalists advance to the pan-European final.
The educational project “Bankers to schools” is based on a personal meeting of experts from banks with pupils and students attending the 8th or 9th grade of primary school or the 1st or 2nd year of secondary school, including gymnasiums . The aim of the project is to develop pupils’ general knowledge in the field of personal finance management and cyber security.
The “Financial Education Day with Banks for Schools and Teachers” conference offers practical methods and materials for teaching financial literacy. It introduces a range of bank-led financial literacy projects and includes interactive workshops led by experts, helping educators deliver engaging finance lessons.
The educational video-series “Bankovkovi” realized with Czech Television aimed at (school) children, the aim of which is to teach children how to manage money in an entertaining way.

Cyprus

The National Strategy for Financial Literacy and Education in Cyprus was officially adopted by the Council of Ministers in June 2022. As from December 2023 the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) chairs the Cyprus Financial Literacy and Education Committee (CyFLEC) which is responsible for the implementation of the National Strategy. Furthermore, the CBC also serves as a coordinator of Global Money Week within Cyprus. The CBC also organises various seminars and events, such as the International Conference on Financial Literacy in Cyprus.The Ministry of Education’s Financial Education & Literacy Intervention Programme, as from September 2024 includes into the school curriculum 6 periods per year as a lesson about financial matters for 3^rd grade gymnasium students.
More than Money programme is an interactive educational programme aimed at sixth-grade primary school students. Junior Achievement Cyprus in collaboration with the Association of Cyprus Banks implement the programme free of charge in public and private schools throughout Cyprus. The programme is approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. It aims to familiarize students with concepts related to society and the economy, such as money management, savings, business creation, ethical decision-making in financial transactions and international trade. Students can develop entrepreneurial skills such as initiative, self-sufficiency, responsibility, creativity, collaboration and to discuss their interests, linking them to possible future professions in various fields. By playing games, students understand the role of money in our lives and learn how to earn, spend, share and save money. The programme is offered through 5 teaching periods. Volunteers from the Banking and Business sector help participants understand how they can grow and manage their business.
Economics for Success programme is an interactive educational programme aimed at 2nd & 3rd grade Gymnasium students. Junior Achievement Cyprus in collaboration with the Association of Cyprus Banks implement the programme free of charge in public and private schools throughout Cyprus. The programme is approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. It provides students practical information about personal finance and the importance of identifying education and career goals based on the student’s skills, interests and values. Following participation in the programme, students will be able to explore their skills, interests, values, and the world of work to make informed education, career, and life decisions, as well as to develop their knowledge of personal finance so they can apply strong financial management skills regardless of their income. The programme “Economics for Success” includes six modules lasting 45 minutes each and its implementation takes place in one-day. The modules are presented in class by volunteers from the Banking and Business sector with the support of the teacher.
National Competition on Money has as a target student of 13-15 years old. The Association of Cyprus Banks is leading the activity with the approval of the Ministry of Education.

Denmark

Denmark hosts Money Week annually during week 11 in March.
The initiative facilitates over 600 visits to elementary schools across the country, where bank employees deliver two lessons on financial literacy.
Schools are provided with online teaching materials to incorporate into their own classes.
A nationwide Money Quiz allows students to test their financial knowledge, with the opportunity to qualify for the European Money Quiz.
All activities are entirely free for schools and strictly non-commercial.

Finland

Finance Finland is actively involved in the efforts to improve financial literacy in Finland. We support the implementation of the national strategy for financial literacy coordinated by the Bank of Finland.
During the Global Money Week, we provide study materials to schools.
We also participate in the European Money Quiz competition by sending two 8th grade students to represent Finland in the finals.
One of our initiatives to increase financial literacy is Talous Tutuksi (“Getting to Know the Economy”), a series of seminars aimed at social studies teachers across Finland. The seminars consist of topical talks on various areas of the economy.
In addition, we organise the national Economic Guru competition for students in Finnish upper secondary schools. The competition has two parts: the first part focuses on the importance of economics in schools, and the second part gives young talent the opportunity to showcase their skills at the final event.

France

“I invite a banker in my class“: 117 100 pupils have participated since the beginning, 18 000 last year. Already 5 000 pupils for this new edition.
This is the initiative of the banking profession, placed under the patronage of the Ministry of National Education. The French Banking Federation has renewed this operation every year since 2015, a fun-educational workshop which raises CM1-CM2 students’ awareness of the notions of budget, means of payment, savings and investment, security and scams… More than 117,100 children have already participated.
Labeled “Educ Fi” by the Bank of France, this program is based on a collaborative board game to educate children aged 8-11 about managing their budget, at an age when they begin to receive and use money for their leisure activities.
“Keys of the bank“: In a simple and educational language, this totally free program offers a better understanding of banking on a daily basis and makes it easy for individuals, entrepreneurs, and social actors to find answers to their questions. “Keys of the Bank” has been running since 2004 and it helps over 2 million people every year. It includes free information and numerous tools, easily available, to help the public understand everyday banking (website, guides, letter templates, accounting tables).
With other partners, FBF developed 2 mobile apps “Pilot Budget” “Pilot Spendings”.
All the French initiatives, free and neutral, are listed on the website of the operator of the national strategy, the Bank of France.

Germany

“Geld im Unterricht” – Teaching Materials The Association of German Banks provides the “Geld im Unterricht” teaching package, offering educators comprehensive resources to help students develop responsible money management skills. Designed for practical, application-oriented learning, the package includes four chapters with worksheets, interactive exercises, and classroom implementation tips. The topics covered include: Money in the economic cycle, Handling money, Payment transactions, and Shaping finances.
Educational Newsletter – To support teachers in integrating financial education into their lessons, the Association of German Banks publishes an educational newsletter. This newsletter not only provides engaging articles on economic topics but also includes a fully developed lesson plan on a financial or economic subject with every issue. Currently, the newsletter has 10,000 subscribers.
SCHULBANKER – Banking Simulation Game for Students With SCHULBANKER, the Association of German Banks offers students the opportunity to experience how banks and the economy function. Participants, working in teams, manage their own simulation banks and make key financial decisions, including setting interest rates, granting loans, managing investment portfolios, training employees, and marketing their banks. Competing against other teams, students must monitor market trends, respond to economic conditions, and adhere to the regulations of the European Central Bank. The objective is to succeed in the market and outperform competitors. The simulation is open to students between the ages of 14 and 21.

Greece

“National Competition on Money”: it targets 13-15 year old students in gymnasium and high schools all over Greece. The Hellenic Banking Association is leading the activity with the approval of the Ministry of Education.
Launch of the e-learning program “Financial Literacy for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs): Basic competencies”.
Launch of the new website of HBA on financial literacy
New educational online material: “Basic Economic Terms”

Hungary

“CyberSHIELD”: The Protection In Finance programme lead by the Hungarian Banking Association, the Hungarian National Bank, the Ministry of Justice, the Hungarian Police Department, the National Security Service and more regulatory authorities. The aim is informing, educating and raising awareness among customers the knowledge of financial cyber security.
“Digital Sniffing Challenge”: online quiz challenge with prize drawing on Kahoot organized by the Hungarian Banking Association and National Cyber Protection Institute. It’s an opportunity for everyone, regardless of age, to test their digital security skills, linked to European Money Quiz practices.
“Great Student Finance Test”: television quiz contest by The Ministry for Natinal Economy (head organiser). It targets young people aged 14-20 and also their parents, grandparents aged above 40, in the framework for financial literacy on topics such as saving, investing, insurance and cyber security.
“Innovation Challenge”: 2-day entrepreneurial mindsets competition on a real-world social or business problem to solve by the Junior Achievement Hungary Foundation. It targets secondary school students, who have to propose a solution to expose them to economic and social problems, to which they will seek answers with the mentoring of consultant business experts.
“MoneyCode competition”: a three-round national financial team competition by the Money Compass Foundation and the Money Museum of Hungary. It targets upper primary and secondary school students, for teams of 3 students, with 1 coach. Teams will be supported by the Money Compass Foundation’s textbooks, webinars and e-learning materials.
“MoneyRace”: outdoor adventure game offers exciting financial-mathematic puzzles by the Money Compass Foundation. It targets students and their teachers in grades 3-14. The team game, which can be played in more than 270 locations across the country, offers students the chance to solve interesting financial puzzles in easily accessible locations, moving from station to station.
“StockRace”: free online stock market game by the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Money Compass Foundation, which gives the opportunity to try the exciting world of the stock market. It targets students from grades 7 to 14, who can test their investment skills with virtual capital and real shares. The game is available on the BSE website.

Iceland

Administrated by the ministry of Education, financial literacy is not a compulsory subject on its own in the icelandic curriculum for primary schools, it is expected to be taught in mathematics and social sience (not mandatory). Most schools, not all, teach about personal finance through other subjects, and some schools make it a subject on its own. That all depends on the interest and knowledge of the teachers. Depends on the school.

To emphasize the importance of financial literacy in schools, Finance Iceland has for ten years in partnership with the national organisation of pension funds been running an educational plarform- Wise finance (Fjármálavit). The platform was launched in march 2015, simultaneously with the European Money Week.

The main purpose of Wise finance is to support teachers in teaching personal finance which is mainly done by providing primary and secondary schools with free teaching material, and offering teachers free courses on personal finance so they become more confident in teaching the subject. The education material is available on a dedicated website

The Public and Private sectors are usually successful when cooperating on financial education issues. Thus, teachers, schools and public bodies welcome the help of the banking sector on financial education.

Financial education is an issue that has enjoyed a great deal of attention in Iceland in recent years. Apart from the above input from Finance Iceland, there have been several initiatives undertaken by private parties regarding financial education. All of these private parties have the same main objective which is to increase financial literacy in Icelandic society, focusing on youth.

Activities in Iceland during European money week:

The Wise Finance platform hosts the national money quiz during money week 17 – 24 march. It´s an online quiz designed in accordance with the OECD financial knowledge frame, reaching a large proportion of Icelandic students at the age of 13 – 15 years old.
Emphasis will be placed on reching the media through press release and interviews.

Ireland

BPFI Economists Webinar – This event brings together the chief economists from Ireland’s main retail banks to deliver a live Economist Masterclass webinar for senior cycle business and economics classes. During the event, which is streamed live, the economists give a series of presentations to the students on a range of current economic issues as well as Irish, EU and global economic performance. The presentations are followed by a panel discussion and a Q&A session with students.
European Money Quiz Irish National Finals – The live online Irish finals of the European Money Quiz will see thousands of students across classrooms in Ireland play directly against each other in real time with Kahoot! broadcasted on YouTube, the quiz is open to students aged 13-15 years who are looking to test their knowledge of finance and monetary issues. The winning team will travel to Brussels to represent Ireland in the European Finals in May.
Business Students Awards – In collaboration with the Business Studies Teachers’ Association of Ireland (BSTAI), BPFI presented the gold medals to top scoring students nationally in the 2022, 23 & 24 Junior Certificate business studies exams.
Fraud Awareness – Throughout March, FraudSMART, BPFI’s fraud awareness initiative, is running a major new awareness campaign See the Scam behind the Screen, supported by Google. The campaign aims to highlight the uptick in and dangers of social engineering tactics which now underpin the majority of frauds and scams and which are increasingly being used by criminals to groom or manipulate victims into transferring money or divulging personal and financial details.

Italy

In 2024 the Italian Banking Association organized about 25 events ranging from digital payments to sustainability. The plan is to do the same in 2025.

Latvia

Public awareness campaign “Hang Up!”: an integrated awareness-raising campaign in collaboration with Mastercard to protect seniors from phone scams amid rising fraud cases. The campainge partnered with Riga Active Seniors Alliance, law enforcment and banks to raise awareness through a wide range of channels.
Regular communication on financial fraud: each month, Finance Latvia compiles and publish data on fraud cases from the four largest banks in Latvia. Finance Latvia consistently educates the public on how to identify, void, and protect themselves from financial fraudsters and their schemes. Additionally, Finance Latvia provides media updates on the latest fraud trends, linking them to current social events, and participate in interviews, discussions, and broadcasts.
Podcast “Financial dialogue – the essentials”: series of video-recorded podcasts covering key topics and questions in finance.
“Your Retirement Week” – a series of events and activities organized by the Bank of Latvia and Latvian financial industry participants to promote responsible long-term savings.
Financial Literacy Week: held during the European Money Week and is led by Bank of Latvia. Finance Latvia main activity is the organization of the European Money Quiz national finals, as well as other awareness-raising events to promote financial literacy.
Website on financial fraudsters “Neuzķeries!”: lv has been updated to provide up-to-date information on financial fraud schemes and how to identify them. A dedicated “News” section now features the latest press releases from Finance Latvia and its members, on the issue.
Preparation of questions for the student quiz “Smarter, Even Smarter”: Finance Latvia develops second-round questions on finance, money management, and related topics, tailored to the specific age group.

Lithuania

The Ministry of Finance prepared a national public financial education plan (2024-2028) and the Lithuanian Banking Association (LBA) will be actively involved in it after its confirmed.
“Lithuanian public financial literacy index”: every two year the LBA conducts a survey and estimates Lithuanian public financial literacy index.
“National financial literacy exam”: organized by the LBA together with other partners, it targets all age groups.
“Recognize a scammer“: the aim of the project is to actively inform public about new methods that fraudsters use in Lithuania. In 2023 LBA created two videos with Lithuanian influencers explaining the most popular fraud schemes.

Luxembourg

Interactive lessons on money management for children and teenagers.
Workshops on sustainable finance for secondary school students.
E-banking awareness campaign for senior citizens.
According to The Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL), this year’s edition of the so-called ‘Woch vun de Suen,’ or European Money Week, will reach nearly 1,200 pupils aged between 10 and 12.

Malta

Financial education competition targeting primary and secondary schools.
Headteachers’ and Teachers’ Professional Development Training on financial skills.
“Be Wise, Pay Smart”: a program which targets vulnerable groups (Prince’s Trust Group).
“Be Money Smart”: organzied by the Ministry of Education and the Central Bank of Malta, aims to educate students about money.

Montenegro

Participation in the National Financial Literacy Strategy: AMB actively contributes to the National Financial Literacy Strategy led by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Montenegro.
Educational Lectures in Schools and Universities: AMB organizes open lectures at elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities, covering topics such as money management, the banking sector, saving, and investing.
Expert-Led Financial Education: Lectures are delivered by experts from the Montenegrin Banking Association and member banks, ensuring high-quality financial education.
Interactive Learning for Students: The goal is to familiarize young people and university students with key financial and banking concepts through interactive sessions. Use of OECD and PISA Data for Awareness AMB integrates OECD statistics and PISA test recommendations to provide comparative insights and enhance public financial awareness.
Global Money Week and World Savings Day Events: Every March and November, AMB organizes activities for Global Money Week and World Savings Day, focusing on money management, savings, and entrepreneurship.
Financial Education Through Interactive Content: These events feature fun and engaging activities to promote financial literacy, aligned with the European Banking Federation’s (EBF) philosophy.
Fraud Prevention Awareness Campaigns: AMB conducts annual campaigns to prevent fraud, raise awareness, and educate the public on financial security.
Promotion of Digital Payments Campaigns highlight the benefits of debit and credit card payments and the advantages of digital banking.
Media and Public Outreach: Awareness efforts include articles in media, TV segments, online portals, newspapers, and banking networks.
Distribution of Educational Materials: Informational booklets and guides are distributed to help the public understand safe banking practices and financial management.

North Macedonia

Participation of MBA in the activities of the Coordination Body of the Regulatory Institutions in Charge of Financial Education and Financial Inclusion – leader in financial education and financial inclusion, and it includes all government institutions related to the financial sector: the National Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Insurance Supervision Agency, the Security and Exchange Commission and the Agency for Supervision of Fully Funded Pension Insurance.
MBA supports financial education, which is compulsory in schools, taught through other subjects (such as mathematics, economics, social science, or else) – schools and public bodies welcome the help of the banking sector on financial education and teachers are generally interested in the help of the banking sector to promote financial literacy in the classroom. Policymakers support these efforts through advocacy, by supporting the events organized by MBA, as well as banks.
MBA has concluded Memoranda of Cooperation with the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Securities and Exchange Commission in the field of financial education and financial inclusion for the young population.
Participation of MBA in the development of the first national strategy for financial education and financial inclusion – five-year financial education project with the support of the Ministry of Finance of Netherlands and the International Network for Financial Education at the OECD (INFE-OECD) which was adopted and promoted in July 2021.
MBA regularly reports on the Code of good practices for financial education – adopted in July 2021 by the Coordinating Body for Financial Education and Financial Inclusion and based on the Strategy for Financial Education and Financial Inclusion of the Republic of North Macedonia for the 2021 – 2025 period. The main objective of the Code is to enable the promotion and implementation of high-quality unbiased financial education by all involved entities.
European Money Quiz – the Macedonian Banking Association, in cooperation with the National Bank and the Securities Commission, participates in this European competition for the seventh time. Traditionally during the European Money Week, the MBA organizes the national competitions in two rounds, firstly online and then in the MBA premises. The banks and saving houses also have educational activities and events during this week.
World Savings Day – the Macedonian Banking Association in cooperation with the Deposit Insurance Fund traditionally organizes an event that comprises educational elements and awards for the most outstanding bank employees of the year.

Norway

Norway’s national final in EMQ will be held March 19, read more here.

Poland

Online lecture on cyber threats for students and academic staff
In-person educational meeting on personal finance security for seniors
Online lesson on sustainable finance in the context of personal budget management for pupils and teachers
A series of educational exhibitions and workshops on personal finance for local libraries and cultural institutions

Portugal

“Financial Literacy Program for Schools”: lectures for students between 13 and 18 years old.
Digital Literacy Program for elderly.
Training Programs on financial topics for journalist.
Financial literacy books: learning material for children and students.
“Saber de Contas“: website dedicated to financial literacy.

Romania

“Financial education in schools”: Starting with the school year 2020-2021, financial education became a mandatory discipline for the 8th grade students in Romania, being included in the school discipline “Social Education”.
“Banking Education and Competence for Teachers”: launched in 2018, it’s a course on financial and banking education dedicated to the teachers of Romania, with a view to understand and deepen their knowledge on key concepts related to the working of banking sectors, knowledge that will be disseminated among students during counselling, economics and financial/entrepreneurial education classes. To date, the banking community has contributed to the direct training of 25 series of teachers starting with the year 2021; by consequence, tens of thousands of students have been trained on financial education.
“Online Security” The Romanian Association of Banks together with the Romanian Police and the National Cyber Security Directorate launched this national project with the aim to raise citizens’ awareness and protect them against online fraud. The project includes, among others, online and on-site events as well as presence on TV channels and in the social media.

Serbia

The Association of Serbian Banks organizes lectures and workshops in schools throughout the year.

Slovakia

The Slovak Banking Association is organizing the European Money Quiz – a pan-European competition aimed at improving the financial literacy of 13- to 15-year-old students. The national selection in Slovakia will be held on March 17, 2025, and will be organized by the Slovak Banking Association. The finalists will advance to the pan-European final in Brussels.

Slovenia

Financial literacy activities that the Bank Association of Slovenia will carry out during the European Money Week:

Workshop for teachers, presentation of EMW and EMQ activities in 2025, 14 February
Fraud Prevention – Open Day to the Financial World for Primary Schools (Last Triad), 18 March
Strengthening financial skills – Open Day to the Financial World for High Schools, 19 March
Fraud and Protection in Digital Bussines – Program for Adults (including Seniors, Retirees, Elderly/Older adults), 20 March
Testing the course of the national EMQ competition, especially for new participating schools, 10 April
EMQ National Competition, 11 April

Spain

Campaign on major radio stations about the importance of Financial Education and advocating for it to become mandatory in schools.
Launch of “Tus Finanzas, Tu Futuro” program, which this year will feature representatives from the promoters of the financial education plan (Bank of Spain, CNMV, and Ministry of Economy) as program volunteers.
Press article on the importance of financial education, emphasizing that it is an essential life skill.
National Financial Education Knowledge Contest. Hundreds of schools across the country will participate in the national financial education contest, which will be held online on March 20. The winners will represent Spain in the European final to be held in Brussels.

Sweden

Finance Sweden is a member of the Swedish National Network on Financial Education. The network consists of authorities, organisations and companies that since 2010 work together on, initiate, develop and inspire one another in matters related to education of the general public in financial matters.
Connected to Global Money Week, Finance Sweden hosts the National Championship in Financial Literacy SM i privatekonomi för högstadiet 2025 – a part of the European Money Quiz competition– engaging 13- to 15-year-old students. In 2025 the competition has gained more attention than ever, and the number of participants has doubled. The winners will compete in the European final in Brussels.
Finance Sweden together with Swedish Banks also runs the highly visible nationwide fraud awareness campaign Svårlurad – Together we help stop fraud. The campaign has been seen by millions of people and is reaching its fifth campaign period during spring 2025.

Turkey

EMQ National Competition, 20 March 2025