How Banker Chris Taylor Transforms Financial Literacy for Students
When high school teacher Mason Golding informed his students that banker Chris Taylor would be visiting to teach financial literacy, their reaction was one of disappointment—not because they weren’t interested, but because they had to wait a few more days for his arrival.
“He truly connects with the students; they eagerly anticipate his visits,” said Golding, who leads the Social Studies department at Horizon Science Academy High School in Columbus, Ohio. “Even students who typically struggle to stay engaged or are easily distracted are completely attentive, asking questions, and actively participating.”
Many students at Horizon come from low-income families, making Taylor’s lessons particularly relevant.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much of an impact Chris has, especially on my students,” Golding shared. “Their families often juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and many of them see their siblings working to help support the household.”
Taylor, originally from Toledo, developed an understanding of financial literacy at an early age after his father passed away when he was in third grade.
“My mom found a job within two weeks because she knew she had to provide for us,” Taylor recalled. “She taught my brother and me the importance of paying bills on time, staying on top of finances, and maintaining a budget.”
In 2019, Taylor joined U.S. Bank as a business banker. The following year, he proposed a new role focused on teaching financial literacy to children and families in need. Senior leadership approved his initiative, and since then, he has been educating both children and adults in Columbus and other cities across Ohio.
“He has been teaching my students for four years, and every year I’m amazed that he doesn’t have a formal background in education,” Golding noted. “Chris has a natural ability to present information in a way that keeps students engaged—something that even experienced teachers find challenging.”
Golding recently surveyed his students about Taylor’s lessons. Here are some of their responses:
“He truly connects with the students; they eagerly anticipate his visits,” said Golding, who leads the Social Studies department at Horizon Science Academy High School in Columbus, Ohio. “Even students who typically struggle to stay engaged or are easily distracted are completely attentive, asking questions, and actively participating.”
Many students at Horizon come from low-income families, making Taylor’s lessons particularly relevant.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much of an impact Chris has, especially on my students,” Golding shared. “Their families often juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and many of them see their siblings working to help support the household.”
Taylor, originally from Toledo, developed an understanding of financial literacy at an early age after his father passed away when he was in third grade.
“My mom found a job within two weeks because she knew she had to provide for us,” Taylor recalled. “She taught my brother and me the importance of paying bills on time, staying on top of finances, and maintaining a budget.”
In 2019, Taylor joined U.S. Bank as a business banker. The following year, he proposed a new role focused on teaching financial literacy to children and families in need. Senior leadership approved his initiative, and since then, he has been educating both children and adults in Columbus and other cities across Ohio.
“He has been teaching my students for four years, and every year I’m amazed that he doesn’t have a formal background in education,” Golding noted. “Chris has a natural ability to present information in a way that keeps students engaged—something that even experienced teachers find challenging.”
Golding recently surveyed his students about Taylor’s lessons. Here are some of their responses:
- “What I appreciated most about Chris and his presentations was his ability to answer even the toughest questions. He wasn’t just there to fill time—he was genuinely invested in us.”
- “It was honestly amazing because he explained things in a way that was easy to understand. The information was incredibly useful, and having this knowledge gives us an advantage as we step into the real world.”
- “I really liked how Chris used analogies and personal stories to break down complex topics. His presentations were also very interactive, which made learning even more engaging.”
When Taylor initially launched his financial education initiative, he worked under Dee O’Dell, the head of Business Banking Sales, who quickly became one of his strongest advocates.
“We gave him the freedom to build something from the ground up, knowing that if it didn’t work out, he could always return to Business Banking,” O’Dell said. “He was an excellent banker, but his passion for serving the community is undeniable. He holds himself and his students to incredibly high standards.”
“We gave him the freedom to build something from the ground up, knowing that if it didn’t work out, he could always return to Business Banking,” O’Dell said. “He was an excellent banker, but his passion for serving the community is undeniable. He holds himself and his students to incredibly high standards.”
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