Get smart about credit.

• Position: Marketing Edge - Brief Article

A Chance for Banks to Teach Young People about Responsible Credit Use

Under a new program, bankers have an opportunity to provide good community relations while, at the same time, tapping the youth market so essential to future business. The program is the second annual "Get Smart About Credit Day," which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 21. The event is sponsored by ABA's Education Foundation.

"As bankers, we know a good credit history can open doors and help people achieve their dreams, just as a poor credit report can turn those dreams into a nightmare," says Steve Martin, CFMP, vice president of marketing at Canandaigua National Bank & Trust in Canandaigua, N.Y. Martin, a former head of the ABA Marketing Network, knows the choices young people make with their first credit experience will impact their lives for years to come.

If young people don't learn money skills at home or...