U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky visits a Checking and Savings Accountsclass at Algonquin Middle School in Des Plaines, Ill. The classesare taught by employees of Alliant Credit Union.

Schakowsky meets with Senior Vice President Lee Schafer andPresident/CEO David Mooney at their visit to Algonquin MiddleSchool.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) recently got a first-hand lookat financial literacy classes that are taught to middle schoolstudents by specially trained employee volunteers from the $8billion Alliant Credit Union in Chicago.

Schakowsky visited AlgonquinMiddle School in Des Plaines, Ill., last week to observe a class onchecking and savings accounts. The class is part of a four-coursecurriculum called Banking on Our Future, which teaches thebasics of banking and the importance of credit and investment.

As a former elementary school teacher, Schakowsky has a strongcommitment to education. She also praised the financial literacyprogram.

“The future of our economy and the success of our country dependon a renewed commitment to public education,” she said. “Studentswith access to financial literacy classes through programs such asBanking on Our Future are provided an excellentopportunity that helps prepare them for financial success inlife.”

Plans for the congresswoman to visit a Banking on OurFuture class began earlier this year. She had expressedinterest in the program when discussing it with Lee Schafer, the276,700-member Alliant's senior vice president of corporateaffairs.

The classes occur during each quarter of the school year foreighth-graders at Algonquin and Chippewa Middle Schools in DesPlaines.

The program was developed by Operation HOPE, a national organization that helps peoplesucceed through financial literacy and economicempowerment.