The 2003 Teenpreneur money guide: the best online resources and organizations for financial literacy, what they have to offer, and how you can tap into them - ready, set, start

Black Enterprise, Sept, 2003 by Tanisha A. Sykes

Bank Jr.

www.bankjr.com

How much money is there in the whole world? It's hard to tell, says "Ask Mark" of Bank Jr.com. He does say that the gross world product--which is the total of every country's wealth--was a whopping $47 trillion dollars in 2001! Find out other intriguing answers to your money questions on Time Warp, and travel to the 1100s to learn about how the banking industry made a comeback during the Crusades. You'll even find fun facts about currency. Did you know that India's money is called the rupee? And that India is the world's largest English-speaking country? This site is definitely a trip worth taking.

Zions Bancorporation

1 South Main St.

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

801-524-4787

Banking on Our Future

www.bankingonourfuture.org

Banking on Our Future is a youth literacy program launched by Operation Hope Inc., an African American-run organization. Designed for young people, ages 10-20, this site shows you how to make your money go further. Check out the sections on savings, checking, and investments, and try your hand at Internet banking and using an ATM, There's even a section that provides definitions of tricky financial terms. From grade school to high school, learn where money comes from, how to save, and the power of credit.

Operation Hope Inc.

707 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 3030

Los Angeles, CA 90017

213-891-2900

FleetKids

www.fleetkids.com

The best thing about this site is the success stories--like the pet photographer who made $500 dollars in three weeks by taking pictures of dogs. The Fleet Kids help you hone your money sense by giving you the scoop on running your business, investing, and watching your dollars grow. And money games like Chunka Change and MoneyMatic, a system that helps you budget your money, will help you become financially savvy.

FleetBoston Financial Corp.

100 Federal St.

Boston, MA 02110

617-434-2200

U.S. Treasury for Kids

www.treas.gov/kids

This site is the government's way of educating you about our monetary system. U.S. Treasury for Kids has great information on the history of coins, engraving, and savings bonds. While surfing you'll find lots more fun facts. Did you know that President Franklin D. Roosevelt placed the first order for a $500 Series E Savings Bond in a radio broadcast on April 30, 1941? Don't keep this information to yourself: Hip your teachers to Money Math, a curriculum for 6th to 8th graders.

Treasury Department

1500 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20220

202-622-2143

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

www.jumpstartcoalition.org

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy wants to make you money smart! Founded in 1995, the program offers 12 principles that every young person should know, such as how to budget your money, how to start saving early, and how to avoid borrowing money you can't repay. Your teacher will receive lesson plans that teach students the basics of financial literacy. Jump$tart also offers a quarterly newsletter on personal finance basics that includes topics such as money management and how to use credit cards.

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

919 18th St. N.W., Suite 300

Washington, D.C. 20006

888-45-EDUCATE

National Council on Economic Education

www.ncee.net/ea/program.php?pid=8

Financial Fitness for Life, a program sponsored by the National Council on Economic Education, helps students apply economics and decision-making skills to the real world of earning and spending. You'll learn about earning an income, building savings, using credit, investing, and managing money. This comprehensive K-12 program, sponsored by the Bank of America Foundation, offers teacher resource manuals, student workbooks, parent guides, interactive activities, and a CD-ROM.

National Council on Economic Education

1140 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

800-338-1192

Office of Banks and Real Estate

www.obre.state.il.us/FinancialLit/Kids/K-Index.htm

Moneyman's mission is to teach you about banking and money! Hop on for a ride with Lois Loan, Credit the dog, and Moneyman as they take you on an adventure through the galaxy of dollars and cents. You'll find out about cold-hard cash, notes, and currency. The trio will also stop along the way to pick up tips on making a money promise with a check and planning now for what you want to buy later.

Office of Banks and Real Estate

500 E. Monroe St.

Springfield, IL 62701

217-785-2903

FED 101

www.kc.frb.org/fed101/indexflash.cfm

This is your homeroom for Federal Reserve facts. The Fed is best known for its role in making and carrying out the country's monetary policy--that is, for influencing money and credit conditions in the economy. Ever hear your mom or dad talk about how the interest rate just went down by 25 basis points? Well, that's the job of the Fed, or more specifically, the Federal Open Market Committee. Its goal is to promote high employment, sustainable growth, and stable prices. For more interesting Fed facts, check out their site today!