8^th Annual “I Got Bank!” Financial Literacy Contest

Join Us To Promote Financial Literacy For Youth!

OneUnited Bank and BMe Community are sponsoring the eighth annual financial literacy contest for youth between the ages of 8 – 12 years old. Simply either write and submit a 250 word essay or create and submit an art project about what you learned from the book “I Got Bank!” (or from another financial literacy book available in your library or home) and how you can use what you learned in your life or the life of your family.

You must have your parents’ permission to participate. Your essay or art project may be published by OneUnited Bank and BMe Community. All submissions must be postmarked or emailed by June 15, 2018. (Children of employees of OneUnited Bank or BMe Community are ineligible to participate.) Winners will be selected by OneUnited Bank in our sole discretion. Ten (10) winners will receive a $1,000 savings account by August 31, 2018 (with cooperation from parents). No purchase required. Awards are subject to 1099 reporting. To submit your essay or art project, see details below.

Please see our section about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

Please see our 2018 Flyer.

$1,000 Urban Youth Financial Literacy Contest

To participate, click here to fill out the form and have your parent(s) approve the form. Submit your 250 word essay or a PDF of your art project by June 15, 2018 explaining or showing what you learned from the book “I Got Bank” (or from another financial literacy book available in your library or home) and how you can use what you learned in your life or the life of your family to OneUnited Bank, Financial Literacy Submission, 100 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 or online. Winners will be announced by August 31, 2018.

Financial Literacy Blog

OneUnited Bank

Our community’s dream is now a reality! OneUnited Bank is fulfilling the hundred year old civil rights dream by garnering the savings power of our communities and channeling it back into urban communities for economic development. With your support by simply opening an FDIC insured account with great rates, we will continue to accomplish this dream everyday!

24 Comments

Cedric short
I am very interested in signing my son up for a great opportunity with writing and not only writing but expressing himself more on paper
March 2, 2018 Reply
Deje Askew
This is so amazing
March 2, 2018 Reply
Jonah wani
I would like to open an account with this bank but do you have a branch at the Seattle WA area
March 4, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Hi Jonah, we are so happy to hear you want to join the OneUnited Bank family. We currently do not have any branches in your area, but you can still bank with us using our online banking products. We offer everything from checking and savings accounts to secured credit cards and even certificates of deposit.
  March 5, 2018 Reply
Lionel Simms Jr
Where can we purchase the book?
March 4, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Hi Lionel, thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately I Got Bank is sold out and is being restocked. You can download the Kindle version of the book for less than $10 and use an app to convert it to your computer, or you can obtain any financial literacy book for the contest.The book has been restocked and is now available on Amazon.
  March 5, 2018 Reply
Virgil W. Hill Jr.
I am so grateful for the bank to sponsor this project. Black children almost never get taught about wealth building. Our children need to be taught about this (business ownership and passive income.) from the cradle to the grave. I have 3 accounts with One United Bank. Virgil W. Hill Jr..
March 6, 2018 Reply
Hannah Olsen
Hello!I work with a nonprofit in Miami-Dade that provides a safe and fun environment for local students after school. We have been introducing financial education into their after school lessons and I would love to incorporate this into our programming. I would appreciate if someone could get in touch with me on how to do a mass submission.Thank you!
March 13, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Thanks for your inquiry Hannah. Mass submissions are fine! We have schools and after-school programs use our financial literacy contest and submit all their children’s work in one binder. We read/review each submission.Each child must have a separate page that includes their essay/art and their parent’s name, email address and cell phone number and the youth’s name, school, date of birth, phone number and address. We contact the youth’s parent to confirm their approval before we finalize the winners. To date, all parents have confirmed their approval and are thrilled their child has been selected. See www.oneunited.com/book for more information on the contest.
  March 13, 2018 Reply
randean mcfarlane
As a Jamaican, I want all my 4 kids to join this bank. Can I start a college fun for all my kids?
May 4, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Hi Randean. We appreciate you reaching out to us and your interest in banking with us. Supporting Black-owned businesses is important across the globe, but we are a community bank and are not yet able to support international banking. As we grow, and evolve this may become possible for us. We appreciate your passion, and hope that while we may not be the bank to address the need internationally, that some entity does, and soon.
  May 7, 2018 Reply
Barbara Jensen
My primarily white church is hosting a "Soul Food Dinner" fundraiser for the new Stroutsburg Sourland African American Museum in New Jersey. It will be the first museum devoted to the rich history of Black Americans in this region. The community gathering will be open to the community so we expect a good mix of Black people as well as white aspriring allies. Both groups I would love to introduce OneUnited to. I opened my account a few years ago and still have never met one single person (Black or white) who has heard of this wonderful institution. Please let me know who can send me 150 brochures or pens or business cards or anything that will help me amplify your name at the dinner. If this dinner is successful the plan is to "take it on the road" and share the template with other churches in the area, the state, the country.
May 11, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Thank you so much for reaching out to us Barbara, and we appreciate you promoting our bank. You can reach out to Suzan McDowell at Circle of One Marketing, who manages our ambassador program. You can email her at [email protected]
  May 22, 2018 Reply
Joyce Durst
I want a copy of the book thank you Joyce Durst
May 18, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Hi Joyce, thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately I Got Bank is sold out and is being restocked. You can download the Kindle version of the book for less than $10 and use an app to convert it to your computer, or you can obtain any financial literacy book for the contest. The book has been restocked and is now available on Amazon.
  May 18, 2018 Reply
Victoria
Is it OK to exceed the limit of 250 words? My daughter wrote her essay and turned it in with 299 words. Is that OK?
May 27, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Hi Victoria. It's absolutely okay if your daughter's essay is a little over 250 words. We look forward to reading her submission.
  May 30, 2018 Reply
Cierra A Freeman
I'd like a copy of the book please
June 2, 2018 Reply
Penny
For my grandchildren
June 12, 2018 Reply
Aderoju
hi , my daughter just submitted her essay online . i just wanted to know if we still have to email it or by just clicking submit we are done. thanks
June 15, 2018 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Thanks Aderoju for reaching out. As long as you clicked submit you should be all set. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
  June 18, 2018 Reply
Shirley chapman
Thank you .I love to get emails hope I am approved .
December 17, 2018 Reply
Belinda Bradley
Good Morning, I am grandmother to two smart girls 9 and 8 yrs. old they want to own a bank I found this page and love it will you be offering this essay project for 2019 our kids sure do need it I have also ordered them the book I Got Bank. Happy New Year 2019Thank You
January 1, 2019 Reply
- OneUnited Bank
  Hi Belinda, thank you for reaching out. Our annual "I Got Bank" Financial Literacy Contest will be happening again this upcoming year! Please stay tuned on our website for updates.
  March 7, 2019 Reply