May 2026

Your one stop for timely personal finance education, resources and services.

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High school graduation is an exciting milestone — and it’s also the start of real financial responsibility. As students transition to independence, a few foundational money habits can make a big difference.

This edition of our newsletter highlights two of our personal financial literacy modules, Banking and Financial Services and Managing and Reconciling Your Financial Accounts, designed to support graduates as they navigate life after high school or college.

This financial literacy module introduces students to banks and other financial service providers that help people manage, protect, and grow their money. These institutions provide tools for everyday spending, saving, borrowing, and investing, often using technology like ATMs, mobile apps, and online banking to make money easier to access.

Common financial service providers include:

Students will learn how to evaluate these products and services based on their needs and make informed decisions when choosing how to manage their money. They also explore the risks associated with using these services, such as fraud and identity theft, and understand how protective tools like PINs, fraud alerts, and secure logins help keep their personal and financial information safe.

Deposits at banks and credit unions are protected by the FDIC and NCUA. People who use traditional banking services are considered banked, while those without accounts are unbanked. Understanding these services helps people make smarter financial decisions and avoid money problems.

To learn more, review the Banking and Financial Services module at OklahomaMoneyMatters.org.

Banks and other financial service providers help people manage their money by offering tools for saving, spending, and making informed financial decisions. Keeping accurate financial accounts allows individuals to track income and expenses, avoid debt, and prepare for important needs like taxes, loans, and credit applications.

Students will learn that managing a bank account starts with choosing the right financial institution and setting up tools that make money management easier. This often includes:

Strong account management skills — such as depositing money, using debit cards, writing checks, and reconciling statements — help prevent errors, overdrafts and fees. Regularly reviewing and balancing accounts protects against fraud and supports long‑term financial stability and success.

To learn more, review the Managing Financial Accounts module at OklahomaMoneyMatters.org.

To access all 14 Personal Financial Literacy modules, visit the High School Students section at OklahomaMoneyMatters.org. Students are encouraged to read each standard and take the interactive quiz at the end of the lesson. Quiz results can be emailed directly to their counselor or instructor afterwards.

If you have any questions or would like to request in-person instruction, please reach out to Ann Thaxton (athaxton@ocap.org), OKMM’s High School Financial Education Specialist.

Explore the May edition of Oklahoma Money Matters' Financial Friday. This month, we're sharing tips to help new graduates create a financial plan.

As always, if you have money-saving tips you'd like to share, send us an email at OklahomaMoneyMatters@ocap.org. If you’d like to join our mailing list for Financial Friday and Outlook, please click the buttons below.

We provide webinars and in-person training for educators, students and parents on budgeting, saving, credit, and more. To schedule an event, please complete our workshop request form, and our team will follow up to plan the details.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the OKMM team:

Brittney Morgan
Higher Education Financial Education Specialist
bmorgan@ocap.org

Ann Thaxton
High School Financial Education Specialist
athaxton@ocap.org 

Email: oklahomamoneymatters@ocap.org
Call us: 800-970-OKMM