9.30.25 - Financial Literacy: The Wave Worth Riding

Financial Literacy: The Life Jacket Every Maverick Needs in Choppy Waters

By Alan Gaul, VP, Marketing & Brand, TASI Bank

Financial literacy isn’t just a buzzword tossed around in conference rooms—it’s the life jacket we all need in the choppy waters of today’s economy. You wouldn’t step onto a sailboat without knowing port from starboard. So why do so many step into adulthood without knowing debit from credit, savings from overspending, or scam from sound advice?

At TASI Bank, we believe financial literacy isn’t optional—it’s essential. It’s what keeps our communities, our clients, and yes, even our Mavericks afloat.

Why Financial Literacy Matters (Spoiler: It’s Not Just About Balancing a Checkbook)

Money touches every part of life—housing, healthcare, retirement, even how many tacos you can buy at the food truck outside your office. Financial literacy provides the tools to:

• Make smarter choices about borrowing, spending, and saving.
• Protect against fraud, scams, and cybercrime—all on the rise in today’s digital-first world.
• Build generational wealth through investing, home ownership, and long-term planning.
• Navigate uncertainty whether it’s inflation, job changes, or unexpected emergencies.

As Shirley Quitugua, VP, Branch Manager & Operations, puts it:

“Financial literacy is more than numbers on a page—it’s empowerment. It’s the confidence to make decisions that shape your family’s future and the resilience to weather whatever life throws your way.”

How TASI Bank Puts Financial Literacy to Work

We don’t just talk about financial literacy; we roll up our sleeves and live it. Over the past year, our Mavericks have brought programs to life across generations and communities:

• Senior Savvy: A tailored financial literacy program at Curry Senior Center helping older adults protect retirement savings, avoid scams, and keep independence intact.
• Fresh Starts: At Good Shepherd Gracenter, we created a curriculum for women in transition—budgeting, banking, and rebuilding credit from the ground up.
• Future Forward: Partnering with Junior Achievement, our Job Shadow Program with Galileo High School showed students what real-world banking looks like (spoiler: it’s not just calculators and suits).

And this is just the start.

As Dave Joves, President of TASI Bank, says:

“A bank should do more than process transactions—it should provide the knowledge and guidance that strengthen communities. Financial literacy isn’t charity; it’s community banking at its highest level.”

The Q4 Takeaway: What You Can Do Right Now

As we head into the final quarter of the year, think of financial literacy like holiday shopping—don’t wait until the last minute. Here are a few Maverick-approved steps you can take today:

• Check your cyber hygiene: Update passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and think twice before clicking that too-good-to-be-true email link.
• Build a “buffer fund”: Even $500 saved for emergencies can change the game.
• Have “the money talk”: With your kids, your parents, or your partner. The earlier you talk about money, the less awkward it gets.
• Lean on your bank (yes, us): Ask questions, attend workshops, and use the tools designed to help you succeed.

Final Word

Financial literacy isn’t a one-time lesson—it’s a lifelong skill. And whether you’re a retiree learning to avoid phishing scams, a student navigating your first bank account, or a business owner planning for growth, TASI Bank is here to help you navigate the tides.

Because when Mavericks understand money, they don’t just survive—they thrive.