Banca di Credito Cooperativo Garda Promotes Financial Literacy in Local Community

The Banca di Credito Cooperativo Colli Morenici del Garda (BCC del Garda) continues its commitment within its territory to inform and deepen the understanding of themes related to the New Single Currency. The initiatives carried out throughout 2001 characterized a large part of the communication activities aimed at the territory where the bank is based (with 22 branches) or where it exerts a certain influence (in 64 municipalities across the Provinces of Brescia, Mantova, and Verona).

This activity is far from being sporadic; on the contrary, it aligns with the mission confirmed by the Carta dei Valori del Credito Cooperativo in support of promoting and developing the local community, with the awareness that the Bcc del Garda’s economic reality is built on families and small to medium-sized enterprises, which are the driving force of the economic sector unique to our region.

Numbers and Types of Initiatives

Here are the figures for the initiatives undertaken: five conferences for seniors in Brescia, Calcinato, Padenghe, Montichiari, and Lonato; one event with the Associazione Commercianti di Brescia; eight targeted at the populations of Carpenedolo, Montichiari, Padenghe, Polpenazze, Tremosine, Calcinato, Mazzano, and Lazise. Considering only the meetings in the municipalities, an estimated participation of over 3,000 people is expected.

For these occasions, the bank distributed euro converters and leaflets. Additionally, during summer and autumn town festivals, the bank was present with an information stand. An Euro informant was always available to answer citizens’ questions.

Participation in Events and Informational Material

The bank took part in initiatives such as the Mario Monteclarense event in Montichiari, the Calcinatello Fair, the Mountain Festival in Tremosine, and the Wine and Chestnuts Festival in Raffa di Puegnago. A total of 10,000 informational leaflets were distributed.

Activities in Schools and Community Engagement

Promoting financial literacy in schools was of fundamental importance: specifically, the bank organized several sessions with 4th and 5th-grade classes and middle schools. An Euro informant, guided by specific educational materials, explained all the new features of the new currency to students and pupils.

Within this effort, collaboration with the Comune di Desenzano del Garda was established, which requested the Bcc del Garda’s availability to implement a dense program of meetings aimed at the active local population, which today counts … residents.

The first meeting was held on November 14th at 4:30 p.m., at the Centro Sociale di Desenzano, with a room filled with over 300 people. The schedule of conferences includes the following dates: November 20th at 8:30 p.m. – Centro Sociale di S. M. della Battaglia; November 26th at 8:30 p.m. – Parish of S. Zeno; November 29th at 4:30 p.m. – Teatro S. Michele Rivoltella; December 3rd at 8:30 p.m. – Parish of S. A. Merici in Desenzano; December 5th at 8:30 p.m. – Oratory of S. Giovanni XXIII in Desenzano.

Meetings with the last classes of High Schools are also being scheduled. This strategy reaffirms the territory and its social expressions as an essential part of the identity of the Bcc del Garda, where ethics and finance represent a tangible model consistently pursued.