​RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AT GLOBAL MONEY WEEK WITH THE OK FOUNDATION AND OTP BANK

Between March 18 and 24, four dedicated individuals embarked on a true financial hero's journey. For Global Money Week, OK Foundation trainers Greta Hîncu, Tatiana Gaugaș, Victoria Iordachi and Valentin Creciun set an ambitious target: 900 people empowered to manage their finances in the challenges and the opportunities of the digital age. The target was not just achieved but surpassed, registering a a total of 982 participants, breaking last year’s record of 900.

Recognizing the importance of lifelong learning, the trainers aimed to attract participants of all ages and mobilized schools, colleges, universities and companies from the Foundation’s wide partner network. Thus, 154 children, 754 young people and 74 adults from 20 institutions participated in Global Money Week - "Orizont", "Heritage", "Onisifor Ghibu", "Gheorghe Asachi", "Mihai Eminescu" high schools; The National College of Commerce of ASEM, the State University of Moldova, the "Alexandru the Good" Military Academy, the Trușeni Youth Center and AO the General Association of Romanian Teachers, the branch in the Republic of Moldova (AGIRoMd).

The Week’s activities, like all programs of OK Foundation, were free and conceptualized to be as accessible as possible to various categories of participants:

•Marathon of Financial Education – a series of webinars for students and teachers, available to all regions of the country;

•Interactive financial education sessions for primary school and high school students,

•Visits to the exhibition hall of the National Bank of Moldova, the Training Center of OTP Bank and the headquarters of the OK Foundation;

•Interactive workshops at the headquarters of the participating institutions.

"Financial education is not only about earning and spending money, but also about understanding its value. We are happy that the children appreciate the learning through play programmes that we have developed at the Foundation and demonstrate a special interest in the subject," said Valentin Creciun, trainer for children and young people, OK Foundation.

Victoria Iordachi, Trainer for children and young people, revealed what the topics of interest were this year: "Along with the popular modules "Saving tips", "Investments in the future" we also discussed online fraud. We practiced applying financial security measures, analyzed phishing, vishing, smishing and card skimming frauds to better protect ourselves from them. "

Greta Hîncu, Financial Fitness Trainer: "We tried to increase the impact of the project with a "Train the Trainers" module that equipped teachers from several regions of the country through a series of webinars. We now have more than 70 teachers who have become ambassadors of financial education, and the tools and knowledge they will pass on will continue to empower hundreds of children."

OTP Bank is happy to support the OK Foundation's efforts to increase the degree of financial education in the Republic of Moldova. Together with partners, we will continue to respond to the growing demand for quality financial education programs and support children, youth and adults in building a more secure financial future.

OTP Bank (Moldova), a subsidiary of OTP Group, is an integrated and universal provider of financial services. With an approach defined by responsibility, commitment and professionalism, OTP Bank understands the needs of customers and the current market context, and is a reliable financial partner in the provision of financial services. OTP Bank is the founder of the Foundation for Financial Education "OK."

The "OK" Financial Education Foundation was created on December 5, 2019, under the patronage of OTP Bank S.A. with the aim of contributing to increasing the degree of financial education in the Republic of Moldova. More than 17,000 people, children, young people and adults, from 36 localities in the country, have benefited from various financial education programs of the Foundation.