Banking with Heart: Bellwether and Stickball Bring Financial Education to Manchester Students
A free, gamified financial-education pilot for grades 4–8, sponsored by Bellwether in partnership with the Manchester School District.
The Partner
Bellwether Community Credit Union has served New Hampshire since 1921, guided by a "Banking with Heart" philosophy that treats the credit union as a true community partner. With branches in Bedford, Manchester, Nashua, and Pelham, Bellwether invests in education, wellness, and youth engagement across the state.
The Challenge
Young people often leave school without the everyday money skills, communication abilities, and problem-solving confidence they need to thrive. Bellwether wanted to reach students early and in a way that felt fun rather than formal, while ensuring cost was never a barrier for participating families across Manchester.
The Stickball Solution
In summer 2025, Bellwether sponsored a Stickball pilot program in partnership with Stickball and the Manchester School District. Designed for students in grades 4–8, the program pairs interactive, gamified lessons with financial literacy, communication, and real-world problem-solving. Stickball's approach blends technology and play — structured games, team-based challenges, and interactive financial literacy modules — so students explore key life topics in an approachable way. Built collaboratively with the community and designed for learners of all abilities and backgrounds, the program was offered at no cost to families through Bellwether's sponsorship.
The Impact
The pilot extended hands-on, real-world learning beyond the classroom and directly into the heart of the Manchester community. By combining play with purpose, students gained an enjoyable, low-pressure path to building confidence, collaboration, and essential life skills — advancing both the credit union's mission and the district's goal of connecting learning to real-world experiences.
This is Banking with Heart in action. We are more than just a financial institution — we are a community partner. Investing in our youth and helping them build confidence, financial literacy, and teamwork skills is at the core of who we are.