"Financial literacy teaches confidence and independence"

Digitalization has penetrated into all spheres of society and the economy. Today, almost everyone is confronted with modern technologies in one form or another. First of all, this concerns finances — and it is here that surprises and dangers often await us. That is why responsible large banks are actively working to improve the financial literacy of both existing and potential customers. Olga Dergunova, Head of VTB Education, Senior Vice President of VTB, Director of HSE St. Petersburg State University, told Izvestia about this and many other things.

— What is financial culture and why is it so important to get to know it?

— Financial culture includes attitudes, habits, and skills that enable us to manage money wisely, understand the consequences of financial decisions, and act confidently in changing circumstances. This is not only knowledge, but also the ability to apply it in life — to navigate issues of lending, investing, and fraud protection.

— Who should be involved in the formation of such skills — parents, school, university?

— Each of the institutions plays its own role. The family forms a basic attitude to money — habits related to spending, saving, and how to talk about money. Schools and universities provide a systematic view and form logical connections. Banks, business and government help to apply knowledge in real life.

VTB Education strives to reach all age and professional groups. We pay special attention to working with three professional areas — teachers, doctors, and financiers, because they are what everyone faces. Through them, relevant information reaches people through the key "vital arteries" of society — schools, clinics, and businesses.

Together with the National Payment Card System, we are implementing the Financial World competition for students of pedagogical universities. The knowledge of young teachers in the future will allow them to confidently teach financial security in schools. In 2025, a record number of future teachers took part in it — more than 1,9 thousand from 94 universities. In three years, the total number of participants exceeded 3.3 thousand people. Teachers are becoming a key element for the formation of a financially responsible generation.

In 2025, we launched another project, "Healthy Finances" for future doctors. It was attended by more than 1.5 thousand young doctors from 38 universities. For them, the topic of financial stability is especially important: the profession requires high concentration, and we want financial worries not to interfere with the work of those who care about health.

The School of Reporting and Financial Data is a joint project with the St. Petersburg State University Graduate School of Management. We train students of financial and economic specialties and young financiers to see the systemic picture of a business behind reports, make decisions based on numbers, and understand responsibility, ethics, and standards. This set of competencies is what is needed for a future leader who can take the company's finances to a new level.

— How to make financial literacy a part of the cultural norm?

— To do this, the topic of money should stop being perceived as something complicated or formal. Financial literacy should not be a separate topic in a textbook, but a part of daily conversations, decisions, and habits. As we teach children to brush their teeth and cross the road at a green light, we should also talk about how to plan expenses, save, why it's important to save for the future, and what it means to use a card safely.

In 2025, we launched one of our flagship projects, a lecture hall on financial literacy. Every month we organize more than 300 events for all comers — for students, retirees, and young professionals. About 20 thousand people come to the lecture hall every month.

The programs are designed so that people of any age can find a suitable learning format. For the youngest, there are animated videos in the program "Good night, kids!". Interactive lessons in schools for teenagers. Educational marathons and contests are organized for students. We offer live lectures, webinars and direct dialogue with experts to the older generation.

— People are often wary of financial instruments, especially digital ones. Is it possible to change this attitude?

— You can. And, in my opinion, fear always has specific reasons: misunderstanding, lack of information, bad experience. Therefore, our task is to create learning formats that make it possible to ask questions, try, make mistakes, and receive explanations.

The most effective approach is a combination of simple language, practical examples, and a trusting atmosphere. The satisfaction index of our program participants (CSAT) exceeds 90%, which is a very high indicator. After training, people begin to not only understand technology, they confidently use these tools in life.

— Which topics interest the audience the most?

— The first thing that attracts attention is the security request. People are most concerned about how not to become a victim of fraudsters, not get bogged down in debt, and notice the risks in time. When the information flow is huge, technology is changing rapidly, and financial decisions need to be made every day, it's easy to feel insecure.

Investments are of great interest, but not from the perspective of a complex theory, but through real—life examples. How to start, how much to invest, and how to assess your strengths. For young families, the topic of personal budget is relevant — how to plan, allocate, and set goals.

— Is there a difference in interest in the topics in Moscow and the regions?

— Yes, there are differences — in the initial level of knowledge, in the usual formats, in the speed of immersion. In Moscow, the audience comes with already established ideas, is more demanding of details, and wants to understand the nuances of investments, taxes, and digital products. Practical questions are being asked in the regions: how to manage a family budget, where it is better to open a deposit, and how to protect yourself from fraudsters.
The format also matters. Somewhere, a face—to-face meeting works better - a lively dialogue, an opportunity to ask a question directly, and feel supported. Online is in demand somewhere — in remote regions, where it is not always possible to come in person.

— What does mature financial behavior mean, and how to develop it?

— First of all, it is the ability to think a few steps ahead. Maturity is manifested not in the amounts in the account, but in how a person manages resources, knows how to plan, save, invest, take into account both the personal situation and the broader context: family, profession, economic situation.

This is something that can and should be developed. Through training, examples, and joint analysis of situations. When a person begins to pass this knowledge on to their children, colleagues, and students, it is no longer just an individual skill, but a contribution to financial culture.

Working with large corporate clients, we form not only individual, but also collective financial maturity. We also provide training for industries, taking into account the specifics, language and habits of people.

— It is logical to move from private financial maturity to those who influence decisions at the scale of companies and industries. Why is it important to continue studying finance, even for those who are successful — businessmen and company leaders?

— It may seem that successful entrepreneurs, top managers and wealthy people already know everything. They have assets, experience, and advisors. But practice shows that they are the ones who especially appreciate it when there is not just a banking service nearby, but a space where there is access to professional expertise, where you can ask a question, hear an alternative point of view, and look at familiar tools from a new angle.

Everyone needs a financial culture: a child who gets his first pocket money, a young specialist, a family, a top manager. The sustainability of families, businesses, and eventually the economy depends on how confidently people handle money. By sharing its expertise and developing educational programs, VTB helps to understand finance, make informed decisions, and improve the well—being of its own, loved ones, business, and the entire country.