Objectives
We believe that financial literacy helps students and young adults become better equipped to take charge of their finances, make informed decisions, and avert the risk of falling victim to financial fraud. We therefore focus on providing such opportunities at an early stage of their life.
Cashless transactions
Daily transactions are becoming more electronic and cashless, as exemplified by credit cards, e-banking, e-commerce, and smartphone-based electronic money. Moreover, people are using such cashless transaction systems at an increasingly younger age, exposing them to new types of risk. In everyday life, while financial transactions are becoming easier and more frequent, financial crimes are also on the rise. Many people end up with excessive consumer debt or falling victim to financial crimes.
What we do
Against this backdrop, we continuously support financial education targeting youths, employing our practical knowledge cultivated through the provision of comprehensive financial services to a broad spectrum of the population.
Activities targeting children
In a narrow sense, financial and economic education is "the promotion of correct knowledge and understanding of personal money management and the financial system." In a broader sense, it means "nurturing attitudes that enable young people to understand the various movements of money and finance, think deeply about their own lives and society through this process, and refine their own lifestyles and sense of values so that they learn how to act independently in creating a richer livelihood and a better society." (Quoted from The Central Council for Financial Services Information 2007)
As our economic and social environments become increasingly diverse and complex, financial and economic education is generally perceived as a key to fostering each person's life skills.
Based on the idea of developing a deeper understanding of finance from a younger age, allowing children to become independent consumers in an increasingly complex and globalized society, we continue to engage in initiatives for financial and economic education with a particular focus on the elementary, secondary, and higher education level.
Activities by Region
We are implementing a wide range of efforts to support the need to improve financial literacy and career readiness in countries around the world.
For example,
- Offering workplace experience field trips and financial classes targeting local schools
- Delivering lectures relating to finance and economics at universities
- Leading financial and economic education workshops for underserved youth and adults
- Offering summer school and intern programs
Some of these activities are highlighted on our global LinkedIn channel.
See selected activities from around the world:
Americas | EMEA | Asia Pacific | Japan
Americas
Each year, Mizuho Americas offers financial education "FinEd" workshops in New York, in which our employees volunteer in teaching underserved youth and adults. This initiative was launched to build awareness of Mizuho's local and global commitment to financial education and to enable more interested Mizuho staff to serve as FinEd volunteers.
Throughout FY22, Mizuho Americas provided financial education training to teens and adults from historically underserved communities through a combination of virtual and in-person programming. By tailoring the workshops to meet the specific participants' needs, Mizuho employees were able to teach students and adults about relevant topics such as financial aid in higher education, personal money management, basic entrepreneurship, and more. To optimize the partnerships and provide more holistic skills training, Mizuho also led workshops focusing on networking, interview skills, resume writing, and career exploration.
EMEA
A range of initiatives are organized across our network of offices in EMEA, including career-readiness, internship and summer school programs, in addition to financial education workshops. For example:
- We welcomed the 2022 Graduates and 2022 Interns at our London and Frankfurt offices. They participated in a range of professional skills modules and financial product training sessions, met with stakeholders across Mizuho, and were given exposure to the fast pace and intricacies of financial business.
- We welcomed work insight week students into our London office, in partnership with Bloomberg LP and the Sutton Trust. They spoke with our senior leaders, participated in workshops and networked with Mizuho 2022 Interns.
- The Mizuho EMEA Returners Programme aims to enable people to step back into a rewarding career after a career break of two or more years. The programme includes tailored coaching and mentoring support, in addition to technical and professional training, including 'upskilling' in technology or regulatory changes.
Asia Pacific
Our financial education activities in the Asia Pacific region include lectures and workplace experience programs targeting local schools, Japanese international schools and universities.
China
Mizuho Bank (China), Ltd. has been working with local NPOs to provide financial and sustainability education mainly targeting elementary school students. Other initiatives during FY2021 led by local branches included:
- Lectures on finance basics for elementary school students in underprivileged areas, in addition to a donation to build a school library
- Lectures targeting university students on the banking business and career development
- Workplace experience program for local Japanese International School students
Hong Kong
Mizuho Bank Hong Kong Branch and Mizuho Securities Asia Limited have been collaborating to give lectures at the Hong Kong Japanese International School and accept a number of students for a workplace experience program. In FY2021, we invited three 9th-grade students to have hands-on experience with using calculators, counting money, and counter services, in addition to observing the dealing room.
Indonesia
On November 16, 2022, P.T. Bank Mizuho Indonesia participated in the Financial Literacy 2022 event held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and provided a mini seminar for women, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of supporting financial inclusiveness.
Vietnam
On November 24, 2021, a special online lecture entitled, "Career development theory and recent changes in human resource strategies of Japanese companies," was provided by the general manager of Hanoi Branch, as part of the master's program and corporate management program (MBA) of Vietnam-Japan University. He provided an overview of the high economic growth period in Japan and human resource strategies of Japanese companies, and shared his thoughts on career theories and their application in career path development.
Japan
In Japan, we implement various activities focused on school education, tailored to each target age group.
Activities at Schools
Elementary and secondary education
Joint project with Tokyo Gakugei University
As a joint project with Tokyo Gakugei University, we have developed tools and methods for financial education, and used these outputs to educate elementary and secondary school students.
Children's Summer School
We host Children's Summer School at Mizuho Bank branches and other venues throughout Japan, giving children opportunities to learn about the roles of money, securities, and banks through on-site tours, classes, group work, and other activities.
Workplace experience programs and school visits by employees
As part of our educational contribution, Mizuho provides opportunities at our branches nationwide for students to experience actual workplaces and learn about money, how the financial industry works and how it relates to our daily life. Moreover, each group company's employees visit schools and teach finance in classes as guest instructors.
Higher education
We continue to fund and support lectures and courses at universities with the aim of cultivating the next generation of skilled financial personnel. We enlist the help of highly experienced managers from various group companies to conduct courses on banking, trust banking, securities, asset management, and think tanks, leveraging the latest hands-on financial knowledge of our employees.
In addition, we send some of these employees as lecturers upon request from universities and industrial groups to provide one-time courses on financial topics. We are working to make the content practical and timely by setting topics aligned with the latest macroeconomic and financial industry trends.
Training teaching staff
With the aim of spreading financial education across the educational front lines, we implement a range of initiatives focused on teaching staff.
Lectures held at the Faculty of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University
Under the aforementioned joint project, Mizuho Financial Group has been offering a course at Tokyo Gakugei University's Faculty of Education since 2007. This course targets students who wish to become school teachers, and is intended to equip them with financial knowledge as they create career and life plans.
Supporting training for teaching staff
Mizuho Securities has been providing and funding lectures aimed at nurturing educators capable of teaching children a range of financial skills, including investment and life planning.
Joint Project with Tokyo Gakugei University
Overview of joint research
Utilizing the highly specialized knowledge, experience, knowhow, and human and organizational networks of both Mizuho and Tokyo Gakugei University, we have developed a number of relevalant tools and methods, and implemented various initiatives to promote financial education using these outputs.
*Joint research period: April 2006 to March 2018 (suspended from April 2014 to March 2015)
Major initiatives
Developing materials for financial and economic education
For the purpose of widely applying the results of this joint research in accessible forms, we have created textbooks and video materials to help students learn how money works, the role of banks, and the basics of economics. They are now in actual use in various locations.
We have also created textbooks for special support schools to aid the efforts of children with special needs to independently participate in society.
For elementary and secondary education
- Textbook: "Working with Money" (2006)
- Glossary: "Money and Our Lives" (2007)
- Textbook & DVD: "Thinking about Life and Money" (2011)*
- Class Guide for Teachers
*In March 2012, the financial education textbook and DVD were named the winner of the National Institute on Consumer Education's eighth awards for excellent material concerning consumer education.
For special support schools
- Textbook: "Life and Money" (2008)
Children's Summer School
We host Children's Summer School at Mizuho Bank branches and other venues throughout Japan. The program is provided jointly between Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, and Mizuho Securities to support financial and economic education and contribute to local communities. Children learn about the roles of money, securities, and banks through on-site tours, classes, group work, and other activities during the summer school program.
FY2023 Children's Summer School
We offered two courses in FY2023.
1. Experiencing a day at a Mizuho branch
Courses at Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Securities branches providing hands-on experience of working at a branch office in a bank and securities company.
Dates varied depending on the branch (July–August 2023).
2. Learning about the future of money
An online course was held twice in August to learn about how money will be handled in the future.
Highlights (branch visits)
Lectures
After a brief orientation of the program, participants introduced themselves to employees using their own original business cards.
Workplace experience
Participants toured the bank branch premises and experienced what being in a bank branch is like while listening to explanations from employees.
Workshop
After experiencing the workplace, participants observed the jobs employees perform at the bank and learned about how money is managed.
* Session schedules may differ between branches. Pictures shown are of multiple sessions from several branches.
Comments from participating children
"I thought the job of bank employees was to take money, but we learned that they have other work to do as well." (Fourth grade student)
"I thought it was really fun to be able to explore the bank and see places there that others don't usually have the chance to see, such as the big safe." (Sixth grade student)
"I found it interesting that there is a special way to exchange meishi (business cards) and that bows should be made at a certain angle." (Third grade student)
"The visit to the bank made me want to use money with special care. I want to try keeping a record of my money." (Fourth grade student)
"I enjoyed learning how to count money." (Sixth grade student)
"I was really amazed by how heavy 100 million yen in cash is." (Third grade student)
Comments from employees
"The children and their guardians seemed to really enjoy it. I'd like the bank to continue offering this program because it provides a good opportunity to contribute to the local community."
"The children and the adults accompanying them seemed to be delighted by the tour. We were happy to provide a service that contributes to the community."
"By explaining the banking business to children, we gained a renewed awareness of how important our work is, and a strong sense of duty to continue striving to serve our customers."
"The children participating in the event seemed to enjoy it. We showed them how to exchange business cards and let them see 100 million yen first hand. I felt that it was good for us to have them gain hands-on experience at our bank."
"By interacting with the elementary school children of our community, I believe we were able to show how friendly a company Mizuho is."
"Teaching children about the roles of banking gave us the opportunity to review our work from a new perspective."
Activities in Higher Education
Endowed lectures and courses
We continue to fund and support lectures and courses at universities with the aim of cultivating the next generation of skilled financial personnel. We enlist the help of highly experienced managers from various group companies to conduct courses on banking, trust banking, securities, asset management, and think tanks, leveraging the latest hands-on financial knowledge as a financial services group.
In addition, we send our employees as lecturers upon request from universities and industry associations to provide one-time courses on financial topics. We are working to make the content practical and timely by setting topics aligned with the latest macroeconomic and financial industry trends.