LA GRANDE — Community Bank is bringing financial literacy education to more than 4,000 students and residents in Oregon counties, including Baker, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa.

Students at 14 schools and the surrounding community have free access to Banzai, an award-winning online program and content library that allows users to practice real-world finance from the safety of their home or classroom with any internet-enabled device.

“At a time when a solid foundation of practical financial knowledge is critical, these resources will make a huge impact on users,” the release stated.

Through the Banzai online courses, students try out managing a budget, saving for a goal and dealing with unexpected financial pitfalls. Teachers are able to easily monitor and grade student progress remotely. Other resources, which include articles, calculators and personalizable coach sessions, explain everything from the basics of filing taxes to how health insurance works.

“It’s so nice to have some real life math experiences for my students especially as they get ready to move out into the world after high school,” said Jill Scanlan, a math instructor at Pendleton High School.

Community Bank is working with Banzai to build financial literacy in the community by investing time, money, industry experience and a variety of bank resources. Through their help, students have access to Banzai learning tools, virtual or in-classroom presentations from a Community Bank expert and even class visits to a branch to see it all in person.

“Thanks to Community Bank, area students will now have access to a wide array of courses and resources designed to help prepare them for our increasingly complex world,” according to Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai. “We wouldn’t be able to provide these tools without their support.”

Banzai resources are used by more than 80,000 teachers across the U.S., according to the release. These educational tools align with Oregon’s state curriculum requirements, making the program a fun way for students to gain vital skills and an ideal way for anyone in the community to increase their financial literacy. After finishing the Banzai courses, users will know how to track where their money is and what it’s for, recognize financial trade-offs and plan for a financially sound future.

Schools sponsored in Union and Wallowa counties include Stella Mayfield Elementary School, Elgin High School, La Grande Middle School, La Grande High School, Powder Valley School, Enterprise High School, Joseph Charter School and Wallowa High School.

For more information about Banzai, visit banzai.org. Teachers interested in using Banzai can visit communitybank.teachbanzai.com or call 888-822-6924.