96% increase in bankruptcies among 18 to 24-year-olds in 10 years.

110% increase in people seeking bankruptcy counseling in just 2 years.

Education is in our name and in our mission.

MidState Educators Credit Union now offers FoolProof^SM , a free, high-energy, highly-interactive, web-based financial education program for high school and college students as well as adults. So, get the financial information you need to improve your financial well-being and achieve financial stability.

What is FoolProof?

A free, comprehensive web-based financial education program, FoolProof features a high-energy, format with videos, music and games developed by a nonprofit consumer advocacy group to engage and educate consumers about financial life skills. 

FoolProof for High Schools is taught by young people and provides teachers with two weeks of online classroom instruction. The program grades tests, allows students to work at their own pace, and allows teachers to assign individual modules as homework.  Click this link for a demo.

FoolProof Solo teaches college-aged people and adults with limited financial knowledge about the realities of money and credit. Click this link to learn more.

FoolProof for Parents and Grandparents involves parents and grandparents in their children’s financial education right from home. Click this link to learn more.

FoolProof also offers an interactive website, FoolProof CUHQ Click this link to learn more, and online newspaper, FoolProof Information Edge Click this link to learn more, for students that include videos, podcasts and breaking news to supplement the program.

Why is financial literacy education crucial?

• The Jump$tart Coalition® for Personal Financial Literacy’s 2008 Personal Financial Survey found that the financial literacy of high school students has fallen to 48%, the lowest level in 10 years. 
• A 2007 Charles Schwab survey reported that only 1 in 3 teens knows how to read a bank statement, balance a checkbook and pay bills. 
• The number of 18 to 24-year-olds declaring bankruptcy has increased 96% in 10 years.  And the percentage of adults seeking bankruptcy counseling increased by 110% in just two years.
• According to a 2007 Harris Poll, 49% of adults said they are concerned they have not paid enough attention to managing their finances. 

Why is FoolProof important for Ohio high schools?

Amended Substitute Senate Bill 311, also called the Ohio Core, requires that high school students receive instruction in economics and financial literacy before they graduate in 2014. FoolProof provides an online financial education and literacy program to help address these educational components

How do schools access the FoolProof program?

To learn more or to launch this program in a school, contact Connie Michalec at 614.340.1502 or click here to request more information. 

Who is behind the FoolProof initiative?

FoolProof Financial Education Systems, Inc. is a national, not for profit partnership that includes individual credit unions, the Council For Credit Union Education, Inc., and Credit Union Strategic Partners. FoolProof is endorsed by the Consumer Federation of America, the National Association of Consumer Advocates and CAREprogram.us, an organization of over 19,000 bankruptcy judges, advocates and presenters.