The Department of Finance and Insurance in Ball State’s Miller College of Business (MCOB) has partnered with Ball State Financial to enhance efforts to help students and others in the University community better understand personal finance.

Ball State Financial, a division of Financial Center First Credit Union, is supporting the University’s financial literacy initiative with a pledge of a $170,000 gift over a period of three years.

“Having strong financial management skills are crucial for all of us,” said J. Kevin Ryan, CEO of Ball State Financial. “As a credit union, we are excited to partner with Ball State University to help deliver classroom financial education opportunities for its students. As a Ball State graduate, I’m personally honored to partner with the Miller College of Business to help provide that financial foundation.”

Students will benefit from the partnership through an enhanced financial literacy curriculum, scholarships, and other opportunities, according to Stephen Ferris, the Bryan Dean of Miller College of Business.

“At Ball State, we pride ourselves on preparing students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives,” Ferris said. “Helping our students better understand personal finance will empower them when they graduate to better shape their own future. We are excited to partner with Ball State Financial for this important endeavor.”

Other components of the partnership will benefit not only students, but also alumni, faculty, and staff. They include opportunities to engage with experts and educators, access to Ball State Financial podcasts on personal finance, and guest lecturers, including James Davidson, Financial Center’s Associate Vice President of Financial Literacy and seven-time national financial literacy award winner.

Furthermore, a newly refreshed classroom in the Whitinger Building, WB 138, will be dedicated to Ball State Financial on February 24 in recognition of the partnership.

The partnership aligns with Ball State Financial’s mission to help members ‘Improve their Financial Lives’ by providing financial education and low-cost, high-value financial products and services.