HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union have taken the first step to help state employees become more financially savvy.

They have recently launched a pilot program designed to help several hundred state employees learn more about money management and personal finance.

The curriculum is based on survey responses and suggestions from workers at the agencies and financial professionals from PSECU will deliver the training on topics ranging from getting out of debt, creating a spending plan and investing, to preparing for retirement, buying a home, avoiding identity theft, navigating long-term care and planning wills and estates.

"According to a university study, one financially-stressed employee can cost a business up to $400 per year in lost time and productivity," said Victoria Reider, acting secretary for the Department of Banking. "When you consider that nearly a third of all workers fall into this category, there is a clear incentive for businesses to make personal-finance education available to their workers."

More than 750 state workers have registered for the sessions. Classes will be offered from now through November at the departments of Environmental Protection, Treasury, Banking, and the Board of Probation and Parole.

"Employees can trust the information because classes are being provided through their employer. There's no sales pitch involved," said PSECU Vice President of Marketing Barb Bowker.

The Office of Financial Education is coordinating the pilot program to learn how to best deliver financial education in the workplace, and will evaluate the program so that it may grow and help private employers implement similar initiatives.