By Trina A San Agustin
Variety News Staff

Throughout several high schools yesterday, volunteers from the Bank of Guam, the Bank of Hawaii, the First Hawaiian Bank, and MetroBank spoke with high schools seniors about how to manage their money appropriately.
Toni R. Aflague, Bank of Guam’s marketing officer, and her team spoke with George Washington High School seniors on how important a person’s credit is, how to spend money wisely, and how to establish credit.
“They were very perceptive to what we said and they are also interested in learning about their credit. They had a lot of good questions regarding budgeting and saving and living within their means,” said Aflague.
Xavier Taijeron, a senior at the Mangilao school, took what the volunteer bankers had to say to heart.
“I learned the different aspects of budgeting and how to spend for what you need over luxury items. This learning process helped me realized certain things that I could use long term and in everyday life,” Taijeron said.
Taijeron said the information the bankers gave him yesterday will follow him when he leaves island to attend a college and major in international business.
Aflague said the high school seniors were concerned about how to establish their own credit.
“A question about if a checking account is a way of establishing credit came up. It is in a sense because as I told them that, we look at it and they basically come in and apply for a $500 the bank will look at their credit history. The bank will also look into whether they have gone over on their checking account. So the bank considers those kinds of aspects,” Aflague said.
The volunteer bankers were at George Washington, John F. Kennedy, and Simon Sanchez high schools as well as at the Academy of Our Lady of Guam, Father Duenas Memorial School, St. John’s, Harvest Christian Academy, St. Paul’s Christian Academy and Guam High School.
This effort to educate seniors was part of a national program sanctioned by the American Bankers Association.