Imagine fourth-grade students walking into school one morning and finding their classroom has become a city. One student is elected mayor, another works at the bank, and another manages a restaurant. In this scenario, money is no longer an abstract concept. Every dollar has a purpose, and every decision has a consequence. This hands-on experience is the idea behind Junior Achievement (JA) BizTown Mobile of South Carolina. This program brings simulated “cities” directly to elementary schools across our state. As a corporate sponsor of JA BizTown Mobile, our team sees firsthand the importance of teaching fiscal responsibility at a young age.
South Carolina is the fastest-growing state in the U.S. From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, new families are arriving, businesses are expanding, and investment is reshaping our communities. This momentum is worth celebrating, but it also raises the stakes for what we teach our young people. In a fast-growing economy, practical money skills help create stability, support workers as they build careers, and strengthen communities that must adapt to change.
South Carolina took a key step in 2022 when the State Board of Education approved a requirement for high school students to complete a personal finance course before graduation. This was progress. But as with everything, timing matters. For many students, formal financial education does not begin until the age of 16 or 17, which is often too late.
By then, many students have already started making real financial decisions. They may be managing their first paycheck and considering a car purchase. Some are weighing how to pay for education after graduation. By then, many young adults have learned by trial and error, and the consequences of those errors can follow them for years.
Experiential programs like JA BizTown Mobile bridge this gap by bringing immersive lessons directly to students across the state. During the 2025-26 school year, JA BizTown Mobile will reach up to 5,000 elementary students across Beaufort, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Greenwood, and Myrtle Beach.
At United Community, we see this work as essential to building healthy communities. Since launching our Financial Literacy Month program in 2022, our bankers and teammates have led 154 workshops, reached more than 13,400 students and adults, and contributed $30,000 to local nonprofits. That work was recognized with a 2025 American Bankers Association Foundation Community Commitment Award.
Financial capability grows with practice, and the earlier it starts, the stronger it becomes. During Financial Education Week, April 20-24, our bankers will be hosting free workshops and offering one-on-one financial check-ups across the state. We do this for a simple reason: our next generation cannot afford to learn about money through mistakes alone.
The strength of South Carolina’s future is sitting in our elementary school classrooms right now. One of the best investments we can make is giving those students the belief, and the practical proof that they have the skills to build something that lasts. We should not make them wait until high school to find out.
Dixon Woodward is South Carolina and Coastal Georgia State President at United Community, the largest bank headquartered in South Carolina. To connect with a United Community banker during Financial Education Week, April 20–24, visit ucbi.com.
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