RICHMOND, Va., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Union First Market Bank announced its local sponsorship of EverFi, a leading web-based financial literacy platform, in partnership with statewide sponsor, the Genworth Foundation, as part of their My Money My Future initiative.  Union First Market Bank has made a commitment to help support and underwrite the program in more than 70 high schools throughout its Virginia service area.

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"Education is one of Union First Market Bank's corporate social responsibility pillars," said G. William Beale, chief executive officer of Union First Market Bankshares. "Improving the financial literacy of high school students will make them wiser consumers of financial products. The EverFi program uses the latest technology to improve the quality of learning and retention."

High schools in Virginia can now be part of a nationwide network of more than 3,000 schools that have incorporated the EverFi platform into their curriculum.  The online platform aligns with Virginia Standards of Learning and uses the latest in new media technology to teach, assess and train high school students in more than 600 core concepts of personal finance.  Video, messaging tools, unique 3D environments, RSS feeds, avatars and gaming components enable students to explore real-world settings, from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to a used car dealership.  Through exploration of real life situations, students are able to absorb financial lessons contained in the following learning modules and topics:

• Wants versus needs
• Savings
• Banking
• Payment types, interest rates and credit cards
• Credit scores
• Financing higher education
• Renting versus owning
• Insurances and taxes
• Consumer fraud
• Investing

Educators can use the online financial literacy program in a co-curricular or stand alone manner in a wide variety of subjects and class levels. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn a certificate of completion as having a solid financial knowledge base.  

"Financially literate children are more likely to become financially literate adults," said Leon E. Roday, chairman of the Genworth Foundation board of directors. "We're pleased to support the expansion of technology within the classroom to enhance financial education.  It is vital that we help our next generation of citizens join the global economy knowing the fundamentals of finance."

Educators also seem to agree that the My Money, My Future program is making a difference with their students.  "My students are excited to log in to the My Money, My Future program," said Wendy Enoch, a teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton. "Thank you Genworth Financial and Union First Market Bank for sponsoring a fun and engaging way to expose my students to different aspects of personal finance.  Using components such as games and avatars to capture the attention of teenagers in an area that sometimes bores them is genius.  My students are 'getting it!'"  

"We are delighted to participate in the My Money, My Future program sponsored by Genworth Financial and Union First Market Bank," said Dr. Bobbi Johnson, superintendent of Culpepper county schools. "I believe that students will find this program engaging and interesting, and I have no doubt it will help give them the knowledge and tools they need to more confidently manage their personal finances today and in the future."

"The Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation is excited about our partnership with EverFi and Genworth to bring this interactive personal finance website to students across Virginia.  We congratulate Union First Market Bank for its early sponsorship of the program and for its efforts to strengthen Virginia communities by helping create a generation of more informed and financially equipped citizens," said Bruce Whitehurst, president and chief executive officer of the Virginia Bankers Association.

Union First Market Bank serves more localities in Virginia than any other community bank and the agreement extends throughout its branch service area. The sponsorship commitment will cover schools in the following cities and counties: Albemarle, Caroline, Chesterfield, Essex, Fauquier, Hanover, Henrico, King George, King William, Nelson, Westmoreland, Fredericksburg, Richmond City, Lancaster, Northumberland, Fluvanna, Williamsburg, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Warren, Stafford, York, Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Newport News, Roanoke, Winchester, Waynesboro, Stephens City, Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Culpeper.

ABOUT UNION FIRST MARKET BANKSHARES CORPORATION

Headquartered in Richmond, Union First Market Bankshares Corporation (NASDAQ: UBSH) is the holding company for Union First Market Bank, which has 91 branches and more than 150 ATMs throughout Virginia, Union Investment Services, Inc. which provides full brokerage services, Union Mortgage Group, Inc. which provides a full line of mortgage products, and Union Insurance Group, LLC, which offers various lines of insurance products. Union First Market Bank also owns a non-controlling interest in Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC.

Additional information is available on the Company's website at http://investors.bankatunion.com.

About the Genworth Foundation

Established in 2005, the Genworth Foundation is the charitable giving arm of Genworth Financial.  The Foundation is committed to helping build strong communities around the world.  Each year, the Foundation makes direct investments in the community through charitable

contributions and matching gifts.  For more about Genworth in the community, visit genworth.com/community.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a leading Fortune 500 global financial security company.  Genworth has more than $100 billion in assets and employs approximately 6,000 people with a presence in more than 25 countries.  Its products and services help meet the investment, protection, and retirement and lifestyle needs of more than 15 million customers.  Genworth operates through three segments: Retirement and Protection, U.S. Mortgage Insurance and International.  Its products and services are offered through financial intermediaries, advisors, independent distributors and sales specialists.  Genworth Financial, which traces its roots back to 1871, became a public company in 2004 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.   For more information, visit Genworth.com.  From time to time Genworth releases important information via postings on its corporate website.  Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings.  Enrollment information is found under the "Investors" section of Genworth.com.  

SOURCE Union First Market Bank