AUBURN, Ala. – April 6, 2022 – Regions Bank and Auburn University on Wednesday announced an expansion of the university’s financial wellness resources to help students learn practical money-management habits and prepare for their financial futures.
Beginning this month, students can access the award-winning financial literacy platform iGrad as part of Auburn’s academic collaboration with Regions Next Step®, Regions Bank’s no-cost financial wellness program. The digital platform, used by over 600 colleges and universities across the U.S., combines artificial intelligence with proprietary algorithms to customize a mix of financial education for students based on their needs, goals and experiences. By having access to diverse multimedia tools, students can learn money management through interactive modules, videos, articles, and other content designed to help them build a strong foundation for financial success.
“Adding the iGrad platform to our range of financial tools increases the investment the university and Regions Bank are making in our students’ financial futures,” said Interim Provost Vini Nathan. “We know financial wellness is a critical factor in our students’ overall health and success – and that knowledge and experience are integral to decreasing financial stress.”
The iGrad platform identifies content for students on topics ranging from short-term needs and how to successfully manage credit and loans – to long-term goals such as future mortgages and even retirement planning. Other features include a behavior assessment designed to provide students with their financial “personality,” as well as finance calculators and a real-time budgeting tool.
Our experience shows that, no matter where you are in life, the time to take charge of your financial future is now.
Kate Danella, Regions Chief Strategy and Client Experience Officer
“Students can face a lot of financial pressure, including money-management decisions they’ve never had to make before, but through this collaboration between Auburn University and Regions Bank, resources are now available to help,” said Regions Chief Strategy and Client Experience Officer Kate Danella. “Our experience shows that, no matter where you are in life, the time to take charge of your financial future is now. And even if you’re starting out with limited resources, there is practical information to help you build financial security over time. We are proud to work with Auburn University to make iGrad available to students as part of our commitment to increasing financial wellness throughout the communities we serve.”
Launched in fall 2020, Auburn’s financial education work with Regions Bank focuses on helping students set and achieve their own goals. As part of the program, the university has hosted several workshops with renowned financial expert Eric Smith, known as the “Financial Literacy Coach,” who collaborates with Regions to deliver high-impact training on budgeting, credit ratings, salary savings, and more. In addition, representatives from local Regions branches deliver in-person financial wellness discussions for Auburn students.
“The iGrad platform is one that brings great benefits to the overall student experience here at Auburn,” said Student Government Association Treasurer Jake Darling. “Financial literacy is important for all members of the Auburn Family, and our continued collaboration with Regions Bank is an excellent way of bringing this much-needed resource to the Plains. This program is the realization of our work with students and listening to their feedback, and we are excited to see how they utilize this platform to prepare for their financial futures.”
The launch of iGrad coincides with April serving as Financial Literacy Month. At a student launch event held on campus, students learned more about iGrad and how to register. Regions Bank associates were on hand to share additional tips and resources for financial wellness. Students can access iGrad through AU Access or use their Auburn single-sign-on credentials to access the site directly here.
About Auburn University
Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $163 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,300 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
About Regions Next Step®
Regions Next Step is the financial education program from Regions Bank, offering a free collection of action-oriented tips, tools and resources. Next Step is designed to simplify financial topics, help people of all ages and business of varying sizes stay on track and meet financial goals. Resources are available online, in-person, virtually, and in English and Spanish. In 2021, Next Step provided financial education to more than 1.4 million people across the company’s footprint, delivered approximately 124,000 financial wellness workshops, received 2.4 million financial education content page views and associates completed 7,000 financial education volunteer hours. Additional information and resources are available at Regions.com/NextStep.