FDIC Rolls Out Financial Literacy Podcast

The movement of financial literacy into the digital age is advancing at a rapid clip and nowhere is this seen to a greater extent than in the number and types of financial education offerings that are being launched in digital and new media formats.  Financial education providers, ranging from corporations and nonprofits to government agencies and academic institutions, are increasingly developing and disseminating financial education resources via videos, websites, email and other digital communications channels.

In one of the latest examples of this digital financial literacy trend, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has launched an updated version of its Money Smart Podcast Network website.  An important result of this portable audio offering is that, similar to other MP3 educational solutions, the portable audio Money Smart financial education program enables individuals of any age to better understand financial information and make more informed financial choices while on the move. The FDIC’s curriculum includes topics that include the basics of banking, borrowing money, savings plans and personal banking accounts.

Podcasts are a relatively new channel being used by financial education providers to reach the fast-growing number of users of mobile devices with the tools and resources they need to execute their financial objectives.  Unbiased financial education is critically important for consumers in today’s world characterized by the substantial marketing of financial products by financial services companies. Similarly, the delivery of that information to consumers in ways in which they prefer to access information is also very important.  The FDIC podcast accomplishes both of these objectives by delivering unbiased information in audio format accessed on mobile devices.   Industry observers anticipate the number and types of digital solutions for financial education to continue to grow in 2014 and beyond.