WesBanco Celebrates Successful 'Teach Children to Save' Campaign

WHEELING, W.V., April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco partnered with 62 schools and career centers throughout Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania during the month of April to celebrate the Teach Children to Save Campaign by offering savings education for children. This year, 51 WesBanco Branch Locations presented educational material and a special WesBanco Teach Children to Save account for children that provides a $10 deposit match into the WesBanco Savers Account if the child's $10 deposit is saved for 90 days. As the program expands, connections with government and business add to the values of the education. The Downtown Columbus Banking Center this year co-hosted their presentation to a local middle school with Congresswoman Beatty of Ohio's third district and the Steubenville, Ohio – Weirton, WV area presented to nine area high schools at the Weirton Chamber of Commerce High School Business Symposium.

Established by the American Bankers Association in 1997, Teach Children to Save has reached more than six million young people through the commitment of 134,200 banker volunteers. "This program gives us the opportunity to use our life experiences and banking knowledge to motivate students to become lifelong savers," said Robert H. Young, Executive Vice President and CFO, WesBanco, Inc.

WesBanco has been participating in the program for 11 years with involvement of employees ranging from Market Presidents to Tellers participating. Mr. Limbert noted that the bank also does much more, offering a WesBanco Saves account for adults as part of the America Saves; West Virginia Saves initiatives. "In 2013, we had more than 3,400 active accounts. We are proud of our participation in 178 financial education services and events and we presented programs to 167 schools and organizations. More than 140 WesBanco employees collectively dedicated nearly 700 hours to savings education in 2013. We also had 20 WesBanco locations participate in the Get Smart About Credit initiative that occurs in October each year and had 10 locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area participate in the Accounting for Kids initiative," Mr. Young said.

LaReta J. Lowther, VP Community Development said, "Being able to teach financial education to our next generation of bank customers is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. It is fulfilling to share with students that moment when they grasp that just by saving some of their money and spending wisely, they can have the things they need, but also a few things they just want. By teaching students at a young age to understand budgeting and savings, we are giving them tools to not only think about how to best use their own money, but to also participate in family discussions."

WesBanco offers the following tips for money-savvy parents raising money-smart kids:

• Set the example of a responsible money manager by paying bills on time, being a conscientious spender and an active saver. Children tend to emulate their parents' personal finance habits.
• Talk openly about money with your kids. Communicate your values and experiences with money. Encourage them to ask you questions, and be prepared to answer them – even the tough ones.
• Explain the difference between needs and wants, the value of saving and budgeting and the consequences of not doing so.
• Open a savings account for your children and take them with you to make deposits, so they can learn how to be hands-on in their money management.
• Let friends and family know about your child's savings goal. They'll be more likely to give cash for special occasions, which means more trips to the bank.
• Engage your community.  Many schools, banks and community organizations share your commitment to creating a money-savvy generation. Engage a coalition of support to provide youth with the education they need to succeed.

The American Bankers Association provides financial education programs and resources that help bankers make their communities better. The association's signature programs, Teach Children to Save and Get Smart About Credit, bring bankers and students together to increase financial literacy.

WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ-GM: WSBC) is a multi-state bank holding company of $6.2 billion in total assets providing banking services through 120 locations and 106 ATMs in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  WesBanco's banking subsidiary is WesBanco Bank, Inc., headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia. WesBanco also operates an insurance brokerage company, WesBanco Insurance Services, Inc., and a full service broker/dealer, WesBanco Securities, Inc.    www.wesbanco.com  

SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.