“Burnside Bees” second and third graders participate in a “Needs vs. Wants” lesson, led by their local BNSC banker, Lisa Samuel. Annie Burnside Elementary School students recently received $1,000 and a personal finance lesson from The National Bank of South Carolina in connection with the Teach Children to Save Million Child Challenge.

“The National Bank of South Carolina is thrilled to have had a key role in banks achieving the Million Child Challenge,” said Chuck Garnett, president and CEO. “By teaching financial skills to students, we are preparing future customers for financial success.”

The ABA Education Foundation launched the Million Child Challenge on April 21, 2009, the 13th annual Teach Children to Save Day.

On December 8, the campaign officially hit the million mark after The National Bank of South Carolina reported teaching an additional 765 students. For being the bank to reach the millionth child, they won a $1,000 donation for the group they taught, Annie Burnside Elementary School.

“Thousands of banks were part of the challenge but only one reached the 1 millionth child and that was The National Bank of South Carolina,” explained Laura Fisher, director of the ABA Education Foundation, which sponsors the program. “We applaud bankers, who as the economy slowed and stocks fell, still rallied to empower America’s youth through financial education.”

Giving Teach Children to Save lessons is just one of The National Bank of South Carolina’s financial education initiatives. The National Bank of South Carolina’s employees mentor at local schools in participation with Junior Achievement and sponsor various personal finance youth programs and workshops.

“South Carolina’s banks are committed to serving their communities, always going above and beyond,” stated Lloyd Hendricks, South Carolina Bankers Association president and CEO. “So we’re excited, but not surprised, that the millionth child fell here in South Carolina to one of our hardest working literacy advocates, NBSC.”

The Million Child Challenge was a call for bankers to reach 1 million students with financial education in 2009.

View a list of Teach Children to Save or Get Smart About Credit participating banks. Visit www.abaef.com for more information.