With a goal to educate youths about personal finances, Regions Bank held a “reality check” at the Boys and Girls Club of Decatur.

The event featured exercises hosted by various bank employees. In the exercises, the kids were given hypothetical children and spouses to demonstrate the economic struggles of supporting a household.

“We’re committed to financial wellness and helping empower our community,” said Keren Treme, financial education trainer for Regions. “And of course, when we talk about the world of finances, there are so many ‘if’ moments, right? And so when those things happen, being able to have the tools and the resources that you need to be able to move past that is so quick and so vital.”

Treme hopes the program will make children more confident and knowledgeable when they begin paying their own expenses.

“I feel like the long-term goal here is not just empowering our students to know that when they become financially independent they feel confident about the choices that they’re making,” Treme said. “But even when they don’t feel confident they know that they have someone that they can talk to, and have those questions answered and that’s what we’re there for.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten