City National Bank Expands its Dollars + Sense® Financial Education Program to LAUSD Students

$1.3 million investment builds on eight years of financial education leadership as California prepares to implement its financial literacy graduation requirement

Sep 24, 2026

LOS ANGELES and WASHINGTON — City National Bank today announced a renewed three-year investment of over $1.3 million to expand financial education opportunities for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school students. City National’s investment will expand access to its Dollars + Sense financial education program through Everfi, educator training, workforce readiness experiences and scholarship opportunities.

For more than eight years, City National together with Everfi has helped thousands of students build practical financial knowledge and confidence while supporting LAUSD’s longstanding leadership in making financial education accessible before it became a statewide priority.

With California requiring a semester-long personal finance course as a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2031, this investment will help LAUSD schools provide the necessary curriculum to help their students achieve that goal which goes into effect in the 2027-28 school year.

"Financial education is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in the communities we serve,” said Howard Hammond, President and CEO, City National Bank. “For the last eight years, City National’s Dollars + Sense program has helped Los Angeles Unified students build the knowledge, confidence, experiences and resources they need to make informed decisions about their futures. As financial education becomes an essential part of every student’s educational journey, we remain committed to supporting opportunities that prepare young people for success in school, careers and life.”

Expanding LAUSD’s Financial Education Foundation
Everfi is supporting LAUSD schools with personal finance resources. Supported by City National’s investment, Everfi’s resources are aligned with California’s 13 required topics, including budgeting, credit, investing, taxes and long-term planning. Everfi’s California-aligned resources include:

Digital courses and offline classroom activities

• Lesson plans, discussion guides and assessments
• Student capstone projects designed to support different teaching approaches and learning environments

To support educator readiness, Everfi is providing professional learning through Achieve for California Educators, helping teachers strengthen their financial knowledge and prepare them to deliver instruction ahead of a 2026–27 pilot phase and full rollout.

“City National and LAUSD have shown what is possible when schools, community partners and educators make financial education a priority,” said Ray Martinez, CEO, Everfi. “California’s new requirement underscores the importance of this work, but LAUSD has long been leading the way. This continued investment will help more students graduate with the knowledge and confidence to navigate important financial decisions throughout their lives.”

Proven Impact Across Los Angeles Unified
Since 2018, City National has supported financial literacy initiatives through the Dollars + Sense program across LAUSD high schools, with Everfi providing curriculum and implementation support.

During the 2025–26 school year, the initiative resulted in:

• 137 schools actively using Everfi financial education resources
• 17,212 students participating in financial literacy learning experiences
• More than 43,714 hours of financial education learning completed
• 800+ educators participating in district-aligned financial literacy training

Students also reported measurable confidence gains in:

• Budgeting (77% to 84%)
• Evaluating consumer purchases (79% to 86%)
• Maintaining good credit (75% to 84%)

These outcomes show how sustained support for financial education can help students build practical financial knowledge and confidence they can apply beyond the classroom.

“LAUSD has long recognized financial literacy as an essential life skill,” said Andrés Chait, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District. “Our goal is to ensure every student graduates with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions.”

Connecting Financial Education to Career Pathways and Scholarships
City National’s commitment extends beyond curriculum access. Throughout the school year, bank employees support students through career panels, classroom experiences and financial literacy events that connect personal finance concepts to workforce readiness and career pathways. These experiences introduce students to opportunities in financial services and beyond while showing how financial skills can support long-term goals.

City National is also significantly expanding scholarship awards to LAUSD students. Over the next three academic years, the bank is providing scholarships to help students pursue higher education and achieve their long-term aspiration. This investment removes financial barriers and demonstrates the bank’s commitment to breaking cycles of financial inequality.