Skip to main content
United States flag An official website of the United States government
Alerts

Alerts

Español
MyCreditUnion.gov
Credit Union Locator (opens new window) | COVID-19 (opens new window)
Menu
Credit Union Locator (opens new window) | Español | COVID-19 (opens new window)

Main navigation

  • Consumer Assistance Center
    • Find An Answer
    • Complaint Process
    • Forms
    • Portal Log-in
    • Contact Us
    • Fraud Prevention Center
      • Fraud Resources
      • Frauds & Scams
      • Identity Theft
      • Online Security
    • Information for Credit Union Members in Areas Affected by Hurricanes
  • Share Insurance
    • Share Insurance Estimator
    • Share Insurance Publications
    • Share Insurance Videos
  • About Credit Unions
    • How is a Credit Union Different than a Bank?
    • Credit Union & Bank Interest Rate Comparison
    • Credit Union Products & Services
      • Checking & Credit Cards
      • Saving & Investing
      • Consumer Loans
      • Mortgages & Home Ownership
      • Direct Deposits & Withdrawals
      • Money Transfers
      • Online & Mobile Banking
      • Mobile Payments & Mobile Wallets
    • Find, Join or Start a Credit Union
    • Credit Unions in Schools
    • Low Income Credit Unions
    • Minority Depository Institutions
    • When a Credit Union Closes
  • Life Events
    • Financial Preparedness in a Disaster
    • Understanding Your Benefits
      • Understanding Open Enrollment Season and Employee Benefits
    • Car Buying & Ownership
      • Buying a Car
      • Buying a Used Car (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Leasing a Car
      • Car Shopping Resources
      • Why Reading Disclosures is Important
    • Going to College
      • Cost of Education
      • Student Life
      • Student Loan Repayments to Resume in October 2023
    • Consumer Loans
      • Payday Loans
      • Payday Loan Alternatives
      • Personal Loans: Secured vs. Unsecured
      • Home Equity Loans & Lines of Credit
      • Credit Reports & Credit Scores
      • Understand Your Credit Card Statement
      • Equal Protection Under the Law
      • Why Reading Disclosures is Important
      • Rights for Servicemembers & their Dependents
      • Consumer Loan Calculators
      • Consumer Loan FAQs
    • Home Ownership
      • Buying a Home
      • Owning a Home
      • How to Challenge a Home Appraisal
      • Residential Property Appraisals
    • Checking & Credit Cards
      • Checking
      • Credit Cards
      • Electronic Banking
      • Protecting Your Financial Information
    • Dealing With Debt
      • Debt Consolidation Options
      • Paying Off Credit Cards
      • Credit Counseling & Debt Relief Services
      • Dealing With Debt Collectors
      • Debt Settlement & Debt Elimination Scams
    • Saving & Investing
      • Power of Dividends
      • 54 Ways to Save (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Youth Savings Infographic
      • Planning for the Unexpected
      • Introduction to Investing (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Investment Fraud Resources
    • Retirement
      • Retirement Planning
      • Types of Retirement Plans (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Social Security Benefits
      • Delayed Retirement & Second Careers
      • Civil Service Retirement (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Avoiding Retirement Fraud (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • Retirement Estimator (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
    • Aging & Managing Finances
      • Considering a Financial Caregiver
      • Reverse Mortgages
      • Long Term Care
      • Prepaid Funerals
      • Funeral Services
      • Scams Targeting Older Adults
      • Preventing Elder Financial Abuse
      • Aging & Financial Decline: Early Warning Signs
      • Elder Abuse Roadmap: Financial (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
  • Financial Resources
    • Activities & Apps
      • Hit the Road
      • World of Cents
      • Money 101 Quiz
    • Become an IRS VITA Partner to Help in Your Community
    • Brochures & Publications
    • Calculators
    • Calendar of Events
      • America Saves Week
      • National Consumer Protection Week
      • Slam the Scam
      • Military Consumer Month
      • Federal Credit Union Act
      • Earned Income Tax Credit
      • Financial Spring Cleaning
      • Make a Difference Day
      • Financial Capability Month
      • Back to School
      • Tax Day
      • Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week
    • Consumer Tips
    • Cryptocurrency & Other Digital Assets
    • Servicemembers
      • Financial Readiness Resources for Servicemembers & Their Families
      • Financial Assistance
      • Rights for Servicemembers & their Dependents
    • Glossary
    • Graphics (opens new window)
    • Lesson Plans, Guides, and Other Financial Education Materials
    • Money 101
      • History of United States Currency
      • Understanding the Security Features of Money (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
      • What to Do if You Receive Counterfeit Money
      • Facts About United States Coins & Currency
    • Money Basics Guides
    • Personal Finance
      • Auto Loan Worksheet
      • Financial Goals
      • Protect Your Money With a Trusted Contact
    • Videos & Webinars

Financial Capability Month

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. > Financial Resources
  3. > Calendar of Events
  4. > Financial Capability Month
Print
Share Facebook (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).) Twitter (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
Open/Close Share Panel
Email (opens new window) Pinterest (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)

What is National Financial Capability Month?

April is National Financial Capability Month. Originally designated as National Financial Literacy Month in 2004, this observance has evolved to focus on financial literacy and ensure that Americans have access to unbiased and trustworthy financial education and understanding of financial services and products. This observance also includes raising awareness of consumer protection laws as well as consumer education, helping Americans recognize, avoid, and report frauds and scams.

What is Financial Capability?

The U.S. Treasury defines financial capability as “the capacity, based on knowledge, skills, and access, to manage financial resources effectively.”1 In other words, it’s your ability to put your financial knowledge and skills to work. This translation of knowledge to action (behaviors) helps you manage and protect your money, build productive financial habits, and move closer to your present and future financial goals.

Building and maintaining financial capability is a lifelong journey. It’s a cycle of learning and leveraging what you know. It’s about understanding and assessing your situation, including your beliefs and feelings about money. It’s also about processing knowledge and information, evaluating options, making informed decisions, and taking action. The more informed you are about your financial choices, the better your financial outcomes are likely to be.

No matter where you are on your financial journey, increasing your financial capability can be as simple as:

  1. Ask for help. If you’re struggling financially, immediately contact your credit union or bank, credit card company, utility provider, mortgage company, or landlord. Although it’s never easy to ask for help, it’s better to work out a payment arrangement than to let the account fall behind.
  2. Check your credit. Pulling your credit report once a year to make sure the information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. Reviewing your credit report will also help to guard against identity theft.
  3. Beware of frauds and scams. Each year scam artists and identity thieves steal billions of dollars from unsuspecting consumers. Learn how to recognize common scams, protect yourself and your money, and take action if you think you are a victim of fraud.
  4. Build or refine your budget. The NCUA encourages you to use our Money Basics Guide to Budgeting and Saving. Having a budget allows you to have a clear view of your income and expenses all in one place. It will help you live within your income, prioritize saving, and meet financial goals, today and in the future.
  5. Learn something new. What financial decision have you avoided because you don’t know what to do? Research that topic on MyCreditUnion.gov so you can make an informed decision.

How are the NCUA and Credit Unions Involved?

Under the Federal Credit Union Act, promoting financial literacy is a core credit union mission. While credit unions serve the needs of their members and promote financial literacy within their communities, the NCUA works to reinforce credit union efforts, raise consumer awareness and increase access to credit union services. The NCUA also participates in national financial literacy initiatives, including the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).) , an interagency group created by Congress to improve the nation’s financial literacy and education.

In addition, the NCUA partners with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Department of Education in a Youth Financial Education Collaboration Agreement aimed at helping students and families save for college and encouraging the development of smart money habits. The NCUA is also a national partner of the Jump$tart Coalition (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).) for Personal Financial Literacy.


1 U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2010

Related Resources

  • Financial Literacy Tools and Resources
  • Financial Capability Month (opens new window)
  • MyMoney.gov (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
  • FDIC Money Smart (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
  • ConsumerFinance.gov (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
  • Youth.gov (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
Last updated on 03/24/23
My Life. My Money. My Future.
YouTube (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).) Facebook (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).) Twitter (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).) LinkedIn (opens new window) (You will be leaving NCUA.gov and accessing a non-NCUA website. We encourage you to read the NCUA's exit link policies. (opens new page).)
NCUA Logo

Official website of the
National Credit Union Administration

(opens new window)

Footer Menu

  • About NCUA (opens new window)
  • Open Government (opens new window)
  • Contact Us
  • USA.gov (opens new window)
  • Site map
  • Office of Consumer Financial Protection
  • Freedom of Information Act (opens new window)
  • Privacy Policy (opens new window)
  • Accessibility (opens new window)