Students from Matt Yoder's (far left) 9th grade business and finance class at Hughesville High School learned about establishing good credit from Muncy Bank employees Diane Jordan and Alicia Naugle (far right).

HUGHESVILLE – For the past two weeks, representatives from Muncy Bank & Trust have been visiting local high schools to teach first hand lessons on personal finance, credit and identity theft which is the fastest growing crime in the United States.

According to Kim Wetherhold, Asst. Community Office Administrator, “Get Smart About Credit” is an annual national program.

Schools chosen for the bank lesson included Muncy, Montgomery, Montoursville, Hughesville and Warrior Run.

The Luminary joined them for a lesson in Mr. Matt Yoder’s 9th grade business finance class at Hughesville High School on Tuesday afternoon, November 4.

Fifteen students chose the class as an elective and were attentive during the lesson given by Diane Jordan, Community office manager for Muncy Bank’s Clarkstown branch and Alicia Naugle, a customer service officer from the Hughesville Branch.

They learned about interest rates, credit scores, principals and how to borrow money and repay it. The lesson began with the 4 C’s of credit: capital, character, capacity and collateral. The presenters explained the debt to income ratio and the types of credit received. They used case scenarios that the students could relate to, such as car loans and personal loans. They learned about internet banking and getting the right tools to make smart financial choices.

Each year the Muncy Bank & Trust Company teams up with the American Bankers Association to teach the local community on “how to effectively use credit.”

The program is now in its 12th year and local bankers volunteer their time to visit high school business classes to share the responsibility of obtaining credit.

Thirteen employees covered over 200 students focusing on the importance of following sound financial habits while they are still young. Muncy Bank likes to follow through with important financial guidelines and steps to keep one from getting into huge financial debt, especially when students are faced with obstacles to pay off student loans.

Building good credit habits and protecting their identity will help them for the future according to Dan Berninger, President and CEO of Muncy Bank & Trust.

“Unfortunately, few young people have access to financial education through their school,” he said. “This program is an opportunity for our bank to plug into a national effort to equip students with ways to ensure a financially fit future.”