On October 25th, 2023, two schools in Antigua had the opportunity to learn about banking through a local bank’s outreach program.

This initiative was part of the annual Financial Information Month, which is celebrated by the banking community under the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

Since 2002, Financial Information Month (FIM) has been a regional campaign aimed at providing financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial education in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

The ECCB, ECCU member governments, financial and academic institutions, the media, other private and public sector institutions, and community-based groups collaborate to execute the campaign.

FIM is part of an ECCU financial and economic education program that includes a series of initiatives designed to foster a financially developed and vibrant ECCU region that promotes strong and sustainable economic growth and enhances the well-being of the citizenry.

Last Wednesday, October 18th, senior staff from CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank invited students from T.N. Kirnon School to tour the branch on Old Parham Road and engage in interactive discussions about banking and the significance of education.

On Thursday, bank staff also visited Clare Hall Secondary School to discuss topics such as career opportunities, reasons and requirements for having a bank account, and general life skills.

During these school visits, one student from each school won a bank account with a value of EC$250.

The theme of this year’s Financial Information Month is Financial Empowerment through Education, with a focus on “Wealth Creation for Financial Resilience.”