Marking of Global Money Week and European Money Week
The Global and European Money Week will be held from 17 to 23 March 2025, and Hanfa will again actively participate in numerous events aimed at improving the financial literacy of citizens. On this occasion, Hanfa’s employees will participate in presentations, conferences, panel discussions, debates and other activities with the aim of raising the level of financial literacy among citizens, as well as informing the public of the scope and work of Hanfa.
In cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK), a series of lectures will be held for secondary school pupils and university students, while Hanfa representatives will also participate in the activities within the Financial Literacy Week at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb and at a panel discussion entitled "Financial Frauds Aimed at Citizens and How to Avoid Them", organized by the University of Dubrovnik. The student discussion titled "Cashless Society: Are We Ready for the Trend of Digital Payments?" will be particularly interesting. It will be organized by Hanfa in cooperation with the Croatian National Bank and students of the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM). In addition, Hanfa will organize training sessions in cooperation with secondary and primary schools, thus further strengthening its role in spreading financial knowledge among young people.
Survey of financial literacy of primary and secondary school pupils
For several years, Hanfa has been systematically conducting surveys about the financial literacy of primary and secondary school pupils, analysing their knowledge, behaviour and attitudes about finances. The survey includes the pupils who have participated in Hanfa's educational activities, thus providing an insight into the progress and challenges in financial education of young people.
In 2024, the survey was conducted on a sample of 333 secondary school pupils and 326 primary school pupils in Croatia. Primary school pupils achieved relatively high results in financial knowledge and behaviour, taking into account their age and the appropriateness of questions.
They were more successful at solving basic mathematical problems and expressing their attitude on finance, while less familiar with the concept of budget and the distinction between saving and investing.
With secondary school pupils, financial behaviour was rated as the strongest component of financial literacy, while the difference between self-assessed knowledge and actual understanding of financial terms was noted. For example, only 20% of pupils correctly calculated the real interest rate, while only 22% of pupils are aware of the fact that payment to the third pension pillar is not mandatory. It is also interesting that 58% of pupils think that money is primarily there to be spent, which indicates the need for additional education on responsible personal finance management.
In order to encourage pupils to think about their finances, Hanfa organized a competition for the production of video material on the topic "Financial Literacy: The Key to a Secure Future", as part of the Financial Literacy Week. The competition generated great interest, with a total of 42 entries from secondary schools across Croatia. The first-ranked school won a valuable prize – an interactive screen, which will further improve financial literacy classes.
Hanfa also conducted a survey on the interest of teachers in educational activities in the field of financial literacy. The results show that the majority of teachers believe that financial literacy should be included in the school curriculum.
Although some already teach optional classes in this area, many point out that they do not have enough knowledge to teach students well.
In order to respond to these challenges, Hanfa has been conducting training for teachers for years, and will continue with such initiatives in the future. Empowering teachers with financial knowledge not only raises their personal level of financial literacy, but also ensures a better transfer of knowledge to pupils, which in the long run contributes to the financial security of future generations.
In conclusion, the results of the survey and the activities carried out confirm the importance of continuous education on financial literacy. With the joint efforts of institutions such as Hanfa, schools and other stakeholders, it is possible to build a more financially aware society, ready for the challenges of the modern financial environment.
