Global analytics software leader FICO has announced a strategic partnership with the financial literacy education platform Banzai, aiming to integrate comprehensive FICO® Score and credit education for millions of K-12 students across over 70% of U.
S. schools.
The collaboration will incorporate FICO’s Score A Better Future® Fundamentals—a free credit education program designed to equip teens with practical knowledge of how early financial decisions impact their future—into Banzai’s existing platform. The partnership also includes the expansion of FICO Score credit educational resources for 150,000 teachers nationwide who currently utilize Banzai in their classrooms. Students will participate in consequence-free simulations, allowing them to choose credit cards and observe the real-time effects of payments on their credit scores, thereby fostering habits that support long-term financial health.
Jenelle Dito, vice president of consumer empowerment and partnerships at FICO, stated, “Meeting students where they are, in the classroom, is what makes this partnership powerful, and we’re proud to be part of the very beginning of their financial education journeys. Financial literacy is a critical life-long skill for students to learn as they prepare for adulthood. Understanding how credit works and how their everyday financial decisions can influence future milestones like renting an apartment, financing a car, or paying for college is essential to building a secure financial future.”This partnership coincides with a national acceleration in financial literacy education. Currently, thirty U.
S. states mandate personal finance courses for high school graduation, with ten states having fully implemented these requirements and twenty more working towards implementation by 2030. A FICO consumer survey conducted by The Harris Poll supports this trend, indicating that 79 percent of Americans believe high schools should offer financial education, yet 28 percent of Gen Z adults do not consider themselves financially literate.
Morgan Vandagriff, CEO and co-founder at Banzai, commented, “FICO’s credit expertise paired with our award-winning interactive approach creates a powerful financial education experience. Students learn best in a safe classroom environment through hands-on learning, letting them practice making financial decisions and seeing the consequences firsthand. Integrating FICO’s best-in-class credit education into our proven methodology gives teachers a comprehensive curriculum that meets state requirements while keeping students actively engaged.”The enhanced curriculum is scheduled to launch in March 2026, aiming to bring comprehensive credit education to classrooms as students prepare for future financial decisions.
Sarah Blondin, a Financial Literacy High School Teacher at Warren Mott High School and a Banzai user for over ten years, added, “Financial literacy isn’t optional anymore – it’s a requirement by many states, and my students’ futures depend on getting it right. This partnership gives me confidence that what I’m teaching matches what students will actually encounter. When they see ‘FICO® Score’ on their first loan application, it won’t be foreign terminology – it’ll be something they’ve learned about, prepared for, and understand.”FICO, established in 1956, is recognized for its pioneering role in predictive analytics and data science, with the FICO Score serving as a standard measure of consumer credit risk for 90% of top U.
S. lenders. Banzai specializes in providing interactive content for financial literacy and life skills, making its programs available to schools through partnerships with financial institutions.
