Vernon Building Society launches ‘Smart Money Summer’ financial education campaign aimed at 13-21 year olds

14 August 2025

Vernon Building Society has launched a Smart Money Summer financial education campaign. It will run for six weeks, leading into the start of UK Savings Week.

Targeting 13 to 21-year-olds, Smart Money Summer aims to educate and engage young people on financial topics, build trust and loyalty amongst Gen Z and increase awareness of the Vernon’s key products aimed at young people.

Four new videos and accompanying articles aimed at young people at different stages of financial maturity have been produced in house by the Vernon’s team and will sit on a permanent new Money Skills Hub online, thevernon.co.uk/money-skills-hub.

The videos include Start Smart: Saving Young, which focuses on pocket money, saving goals and opening a savings account. This video was made in collaboration with WizeUp. Spend Wise: Teen Budgeting helps teens to manage part-time job income, budgeting basics and avoid impulse buys. Money Moves: First Payday features Stockport financial education organisation, Talk About Money, with a focus on managing first income and finally Big Steps: Uni Life educates young adults about student loans, accommodation costs and Buy for Uni mortgages.

The Smart Money Summer campaign will be supported via e-newsletters to the Vernon’s members, in branch, social media, PR and via support from Greater Manchester youth organisations that the Vernon has given grants to via the recently launched Vernon Charitable Foundation and long-standing Community Stars programme

Vernon Building Society is partnering with leading financial education app, Doshi, during UK Savings Week, 22-28 September. The Vernon’s members will be encouraged to download the app and use the innovative micro-learning modules to help them save, borrow and invest. Doshi uses gamification to make learning more fun, and it will be hosting a competition all week with 20 winners receiving amazon gift cards of up to £100

Vernon Building Society has been supporting financial education across Greater Manchester through a partnership with WizeUp, who deliver in-person financial skills and education sessions within high schools on behalf of the Vernon. Over the past two years it has taught 2,857 children aged 10-13 across 8 schools on a number of finance topics, including how the tax system and credit cards work, the importance of a pension and how to apply for student finance.

Darren Ditchburn, CEO at Vernon Building Society says:

“At the Vernon we recognise the importance and value of instilling good financial education from a young age. Our new Smart Money Summer campaign extends our commitment to ensuring young people can make sensible financial decisions. We hope it resonates well with young savers, teen spenders and young adults starting out in their first jobs or looking to buy their first house. You’re never too young to take control of your finances.”

Vernon Building Society has a number of products aimed at Gen Z, including an innovative range of mortgages aimed at students and first time buyers, including Buy For Uni, Head Start and High LTV Mortgages. It also has a Young Savers Account.