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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    October 20, 2011
    ABA Media Contact: Sarah Grano
    (202) 663-5468
    E-mail:     sgrano@aba.com
    Follow us on Twitter     @ABABankingNews

                                                 ABA EDUCATION FOUNDATION CELEBRATES NINTH 
                                                           ANNUAL GET SMART ABOUT CREDIT DAY

    WASHINGTON — Today is the American Bankers Association Education Foundation's ninth annual Get Smart About Credit Day and to celebrate, bankers and young adults will come together in classrooms across the country for lessons on how to use credit responsibly.

    "Survey after survey indicate that young people just don't know enough about credit – how to build it, how to use it responsibly and what factors impact a credit score," said Laura Fisher, executive director of the ABA Education Foundation, which sponsors the program. "Today's lessons provide an opportunity for young adults to get the facts on how to use credit responsibly straight from the experts."

    This year more than 3,300 bankers, including ABA Education Foundation National Partners BBVA Compass and U.S. Bank, will reach more than 122,000 students with Get Smart About Credit lessons. Participating banks are listed on the     Get Smart About Credit Honor Roll -- a list provided by Qualtrics online survey software.

    "This program allows bankers to work collaboratively to raise awareness of the need for credit education," said Fisher. "Bankers are committed to financial education and understand that an informed consumer is the best customer."

    Get Smart About Credit Day brings thousands of bankers and students together for lessons on developing good credit habits, such as paying on time, protecting your identity, using credit wisely and not borrowing more than you can repay.

    Those who don't receive an in-person lesson from a banker volunteer can get credit education resources from the Get Smart About Credit website:     www.getsmartaboutcredit.com.  The website offers components of the Get Smart About Credit program including tips, quizzes and a host of credit-related information.

    The ABA Education Foundation provides financial education programs and resources that help bankers make their communities better. More than 123,000 bankers have taught basic finance skills to some 5.2 million young people through participation in the Foundation's signature programs, Teach Children to Save and Get Smart About Credit. Founded by bankers in 1925, the foundation is guided by a board of bankers and is an affiliate of the American Bankers Association.

    For more information, visit     www.abaef.com or call 1-800-BANKERS.


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