RiverHills Bank and Sherman Avenue Elementary have joined forces to teach children how to save money. The initiative is part of National Teach Children to Save Day, which was April 21.

The decade-old effort was created by the American Banking Association to encourage local banks to team up with area schools and teach students about the value of money.

In light of the economic downturn, said RiverHills Vice President Nelda Sampey, “the younger we can reach our children and instill the need to save, the better it is for them.”

Sampey was joined by Brenda Cranfield, administrative assistant at RiverHills’ North Frontage Road branch, in speaking to Allyson Johnston’s kindergarten class. Johnston said her students generally understand and get the point of money.

“We tie in what their teachers are already teaching them,” Sampey said.

Sampey and Cranfield came prepared with coins and cash to show the students who, even at 4 and 5 years old, could identify the currency. All the students raised their hands when asked if they knew what each coin and dollar bill looked like. They are allowed to bring money to school each Friday to buy ice cream.

To end the lesson, each student received a piggy bank from RiverHills Bank. Sampey said the bank is a physical reminder to the students to make an effort to save their money.

RiverHills Bank also participates in an adopt-a-school program and teaches area high school students about banking and money. The high-school initiative focuses on maintaining a checking account and using credit properly.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchanprasith@vicksburgpost.com