U.S. Bank Students and Personal Finance Study finds parents can
make a difference
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 7, 2015--
U.S. Bank, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States, today
released its 2015
U.S. Bank Students and Personal Finance Study based on a survey of
1,640 college students. Half of those surveyed said they would give
themselves a C or below when asked how successful they are in managing
their money.
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The good news – parents can help. The survey found that 91 percent of
students learned about money from their parents, either directly or by
example, and 55 percent of students identified their parents as the
number one influence on their financial habits, as well as their go-to
source for financial advice.
“Personal financial knowledge and confidence is critical to the health
of our national economy,” said Robyn Gilson, vice president of strategy
and insights at U.S. Bank. “It has never been more important for parents
to engage in an ongoing dialogue with their children about personal
money management and ways to maintain good financial habits. Students
need to feel informed, prepared and confident in the decisions they are
making today, which can impact them for years to come.”
U.S. Bank’s survey, which included a 12-question true/false quiz,
uncovered gaps in students’ overall understanding of personal finance,
especially in three critical areas: budgeting, credit and/or saving for
the future.
Budgeting
-
Twenty-one percent of students say they are barely keeping up on
day-to-day expenses. (Only five percent of students say they are
prepared for unexpected expenses.)
-
Forty-four percent say they have little to no knowledge of creating
and maintaining a budget.
-
Sixty-five percent grade themselves a “C” or worse in managing their
money.
Credit
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Only 39 percent of students correctly know that paying off a
delinquent loan or credit card balance is not enough to remove it from
a credit report.
-
Sixty percent believe using checks and debit cards can help build
credit.
-
Forty-seven percent believe a co-signer will not be held accountable
for paying off the loan if the student doesn’t find a job.
Saving for the Future
-
Sixty-three percent of students think 401k investments are guaranteed
or don’t lose value.
-
More than 60 percent say they had little to no knowledge of
investments or retirement savings.
As part of the bank’s commitment to financial education, U.S. Bank
created the “Student
Union” to empower students by providing engaging tools, events,
peer-to-peer feedback and resources that are critical to building
financial literacy in a fun and positive environment. The site is also
meant to help students and parents engage in discussions about finances
and money management, including the importance of credit and
significance of credit scores.
For a limited time, U.S.
Bank Student Union is providing all students free access to
CreditView from TransUnion, which provides credit score and outstanding
balances, along with an interactive simulator that allows users to enter
hypothetical changes – such as paying down a credit card or taking out a
car loan – to demonstrate what may happen to their score. The service is
available for free to all U.S. Bank online banking customers and any
student (including non-customers) who signs up through the Student Union
website.
U.S. Bank also recommends parents work with their college-aged children
to implement easy changes that can have a long-lasting positive impact
on their financial futures. Find this and other useful information at U.S.
Bank Financial Genius.
-
Watch for opportunities to start the conversation. “I need a
car” or “I landed that summer job” are perfect door openers. Identify
wants versus needs. Budget weekly expenses and how much they need to
save for school. Check in on a regular basis – but don’t nag.
-
Be honest and open – don’t dodge the hard questions. Include
your son or daughter in conversations about the family budget. Talk
about times when you’ve had to wait to purchase something you really
wanted to buy.
-
Use your bank as a resource. Many bankers are parents too,
often with similar college-age challenges. Ask how they relate to
their students about money. Use the resources banks have available –
from mobile and internet banking to credit score tools and educational
materials.
Survey Methodology
U.S. Bank Students and Personal Finance
Study monitors undergraduate college students' financial knowledge,
experiences, perceptions and outlook. Prior to performing this
quantitative study, qualitative research via online discussion groups
and on-screen interviews were held for initial insights and hypotheses
generation. The national survey was conducted by VozLatinum Network in
conjunction with Hunter Miller Research Group via an online sample. In
April 2015, 1,640 part and full time students ages 18 to 30 responded to
the questionnaire.
About U.S. Bank
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $410 billion
in assets as of March 31, 2015, is the parent company of U.S. Bank
National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United
States. The company operates 3,172 banking offices in 25 states and
5,016 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage,
insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to
consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150707005294/en/
Source: U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bank Corporate Communications
Teri Charest, 612-303-0732
teri.charest@usbank.com
@usbank,
@usbank_news, #financialgenius and usbank.com/studentunion