ABA Foundation Encourages Banks to Host Lights, Camera, Save! Teen Video Contest

The American Bankers Association Foundation is urging banks across the country to participate in its upcoming 15th annual Lights, Camera, Save! video competition that runs from Oct.1 to Nov. 30. Lights, Camera, Save! is a national contest that encourages teens to use video to communicate the value of sound money management. The competition is one of the ABA Foundation's most popular financial education programs.

Through Lights, Camera, Save!, teen participants create a video up to 30 seconds long that demonstrates the importance of using money wisely and then submit the video to their local participating bank. The contest is open to teen filmmakers of all experience levels.

"Lights, Camera, Save! is more than a video contest-it's a powerful platform for young people to harness their creativity to teach the importance of financial literacy," said Lindsay Torrico, executive director, ABA Foundation. "By participating, students gain valuable skills in storytelling and money management while providing bankers with the opportunity to inspire and educate the next generation of financially savvy leaders. It's a win-win for everyone involved."

Registered banks will host the first round of judging and select a winning student from their local entries to compete on the national level for several awards, including a grand prize of $10,000, $5,000 for the second-place winner and $2,500 for the third-place winner. New to this year's contest is a teacher recognition prize for the educators identified in the winning students' submission packages, with $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd, and $100 for 3rd.

National contestants will then go head-to-head on ABA's Instagram page with public voting to determine which videos advance to the final round of national judging. Last year, there were 270 participating banks in 47 states and Washington, D.C. as part of Lights, Camera, Save! [View the 2024-2025 winning videos]

The ABA Foundation deeply appreciates Visa's sponsorship of this year's Light. Camera, Save! contest. Visa's support allows the ABA Foundation to offer this program free of charge to registered banks across the country. It also allows for the new teacher recognition and increased cash prizes for the teen contest winners.

"When young people tell their own stories about money, they're not just learning-they're leading," said Celeste Schwitters, SVP, Community Accounts and Digital Sales at Visa. "Lights, Camera, Save! is a chance for teens to show us what financial confidence looks like through their eyes. It's bold, it's creative, and it's deeply personal. Visa is proud to support a program that meets young people where they are and helps them build the skills-and the belief-that they can shape their own future."

Banks interested in participating in the contest can sign up online at aba.com/lightscamerasave. Registered banks will receive real-time customer support and be featured in the list of participating banks on the ABA Foundation website and in press materials.

In support of this year's competition, the ABA Foundation is offering a Lights, Camera, Save! webinar for banks interested in participating on Sept. 4th at 2 p.m. ET. To register for the webinar, click here. For additional questions about the contest or how to register, bankers can email ABA Foundation Senior Manager for Youth Financial Education Kelsey Havemann at [email protected].

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About the American Bankers Association

The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation's $24.5 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ approximately 2.1 million people, safeguard $19.5 trillion in deposits and extend $12.8 trillion in loans.

About the ABA Foundation

Through its leadership, partnerships, and national programs, ABA's Community Engagement Foundation (dba ABA Foundation), a 501(c)3, helps bankers provide financial education to individuals at every age, elevate issues around affordable housing and community development, and achieve corporate social responsibility objectives to improve the well-being of their customers and their communities.