THE ABCs OF CREDIT CARD FINANCE - 2011

For several years now, DFI's Consumer Education and Outreach program has partnered with the Center for Student Credit Card Education, Inc. (CSCCE) to offer a  free credit card literacy program, “The ABCs of Credit Card Finance,” consisting of a Student Primer, Trainer’s Guide and  PowerPoint Presentation.

The program has a target audience of high school juniors, seniors and college freshmen and teaches students how to wisely choose and responsibly use a credit card. By learning about credit through a structured curriculum, students don’t have to resort to trial-and-error learning on such an important topic. Since its inception in 2002, the program has been updated yearly to stay current with the credit card industry. Benefiting from an educational sponsorship by Citi from 2004 to 2009, more than 2.5 million student primers were distributed, reaching students in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. and Guam.

The ABCs of Credit Card Finance is now available free of charge online on a new website, www.theabcsofcredit.com.

The curriculum will be available in two formats. The traditional program, including the student primer, Trainer’s Guide and PowerPoint Presentation are available for teachers to download and now an interactive web-based program that can be taken independently by students online.

It's convenience and easy. Students go to the website and log on to take the online program. Upon completion of the 25 question final exam, their teacher will be advised by email of the student’s name and test score. 

DFI will continue to use the ABCs of Credit Card Finance when we are reaching out to high school juniors, seniors and college freshmen to help them develop the credit card literacy skills necessary to build a positive credit history that will serve them today and for years to come. 

For additional information, contact:

Alana Golden, Consumer Education and Outreach Manager, Department of Financial Institutions, (916) 323-7012 or by email agolden@dfi.ca.gov.