Visa launches game to improve financial education

May 10, 2010 – Toronto Sun

Visa on Monday launched its online financial soccer game in Canada as part of a worldwide effort to improve financial literacy among 20 million consumers in the next three years.

The credit card giant developed the game with football's international federation, FIFA. Visa is seeking to roll out the game in 30 countries in the lead up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, which kicks off one month from now in South Africa.

The game is available in 10 languages and combines the rules of soccer with multiple-choice questions about financial management.

"We believe financial literacy is an important tool for people all around the world to better educate themselves on how to live, to spend and save and better enjoy their retirement," Tim Wilson, head of Visa Canada, said at an event in a Toronto school to launch the game.

"The good thing about Canada is that we have an educated tech savvy population so they are easy to reach, but in terms of financial literacy everyone has room to learn."

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in June last year kicked off a series of countrywide consultations under the Task Force on Financial Literacy aimed at improving financial education across the country.

The Investment Industry Association of Canada said in a submission to the Task Force last month that financial education is the key to future prosperity in the country and should be made mandatory on school curriculums.

Visa will make its submission to the Task Force on Tuesday.

The game is available at www.financialsoccer.ca.