ANZ's MoneyMinded lifts financial literacy

According to a recent report by Melbourne's RMIT University, participants in ANZ's MoneyMinded financial education program said their money management skills improved.

Almost 300,000 people have participated in MoneyMinded education across Australia and the Asia Pacific region since 2003, either in a workshop, online or in one-to-one counselling. In Australia the participants were most commonly females, sole parents and individuals seeking employment.

Before starting the program, 47 per cent of participants had a financial goal for the following 12 months. After the program, 91 per cent of participants had set themselves longer-term goals.

Participants increased their capacity to cover all their expenses. Before completing the program, 27 per cent of participants said they found it "very difficult" or "extremely difficult" to cover expenses and after the program only three per cent still found that task difficult.

The report also found the proportion of participants who paid the full balance on their card increased from 18 per cent to 29 per cent after doing the program, while those who struggled to pay the minimum balance on their card each month fell from 18 per cent to six per cent.

Before completing the online program, 75 per cent of ANZ employees - who joined the program for their own benefit - set longer-term financial goals and worked to achieve them. This increased to 93 per cent after the program.