Anti-money laundering coach Zarina helps make students more resilient with their finances

Helping empower young people financially

As a senior coach, Zarina offers training to employees of the bank in the fight against money laundering, fraud, and the financing of terrorism. When she saw a call from ABN AMRO Foundation for volunteers to go into classrooms during Money Week (22 to 26 March 2021), she didn’t hesitate for a second. ‘I think it’s important that young people be able to find out about all things “money” in an easy-to-understand way. These are our future doctors, teachers, and artists. It’s about a few simple things: don’t give your bank card to anyone, never share your PIN, and check to make sure there’s a lock icon showing in your browser whenever you’re paying online. By investing in kids now, you're giving them a measure of financial resilience.’

Recruiting at the school gate

Where does Zarina think the danger lies? For example, it could happen that teenagers consciously or unconsciously allow themselves to be used as 'money mules'. That’s a phenomenon she sees in the course of her work. ‘Criminals hang around schoolyards and ask kids whether they can pay them to use their bank account and ATM card for a while. That’show money gets laundered.’ Anyone who falls prey to that can land in hot water and face criminal charges. ‘As a bank, we can help ensure that kids are more financially literate.’

Banks in the Classroom

Supervising sports days, taking a class to a special musical, and coaching young people sothey can develop their talents: as a volunteer working through our Foundation, Zarina is not only enthusiastic, but also experienced. This week, she’s teaching all about money for the second time. Money Week is a ‘project week’ for schools across the country during which employees of banks, insurance companies, and other organisations become guest teachers at primary schools as part of the Banks in the Classroom programme. Over 200 ABN AMRO employees are taking part.

‘Suddenly you're a year 6 (groep 8) teacher. That’s pretty exciting stuff! As a guest teacher, you normally play the Cash Quiz with the class. It’s full of questions that are good for a laughand that can get discussions going. This year, of course, everything has to be done online.’ What’s striking for Zarina is that the students find ‘money’ a fun subject. ‘And what’s surprising to me is how many kids are already shopping online. Someone had a paper route that he did together with his mum. He said he had a lot of money in his account—a proper little entrepreneur.’

The human side of the bank

When Zarina joined ABN AMRO 27 years ago, banks had a very different role in society. ‘We were “The Bank”—practically an institution. These days we’re right at the heart of society. I think the fact that 6,500 employees volunteer through our Foundation also says something about the type of organisation we are. And taking part like this is genuinely encouraged. We even get to take off a week for it every year—our Banking for Better days.’

Nothing but positive

How does the outside world react to her stories? ‘Always positively—but surprised, too. Many people have no idea that ABN AMRO is so heavily involved on the social front. It might not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think of a bank, but the way I see it, volunteering actually seems like the natural thing to do: It’s part and parcel of our responsibility. And I couldn’t be prouder of it.’

Twenty years of ABN AMRO Foundation

Here at ABN AMRO Foundation, we’ve been making our contribution to society since 2001. Every year we organise hundreds of volunteer activities all across the country, often working together with social partners. In recent years, those activities have been focused primarily on children and young people who are having a tough time at home. As a bank, we want to contribute to a future in which they have equal opportunities, can reach their goals, and realise their dreams.

From playing football to reading to kids, we’ve previously published special stories about employees who work as volunteers through ABN AMRO Foundation to promote equal opportunities for children. And what do you know: their enthusiasm was contagious, because hundreds of new colleagues have since signed up. Read any stories you’ve missed here.