Boston, US-based OneUnited Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution, has announced the winners of its 15th annual "I Got Bank! Youth Financial Literacy Essay & Art Contest." Each of the ten youth winners are awarded a USD 1,000 savings account, the bank said.

The 2025 winners are Jasmine Curd, 12, Blue Springs, MO, Andrew Elus, 11, Miami, FL, Rusty Fisher, 12, Apple Valley, CA, Jai Irby, 12, Boston, MA, Brandon Littlejohn, 12, Newman, GA, Jalonie Lue Shue, 12, Miami, FL, Zoë Madison Orndorff, 9, Homestead, FL, Arfa Mohamed, 8, Rocklin, CA, Alanna Oguadimma, 9, Milton, MA, Jacob Phillips, 8, Missouri City, TX.

Each winner spoke about their financial literacy journey and how it will help them and their families. The panel of judges included Teri Williams, the bank's president & chief operating officer and Sherri Brewer, the bank's senior vice president, Chief Retail officer.

Williams wrote the book "I Got Bank! What My Grandad Taught Me About Money" (Beckham), after discovering the lack of focus on educating urban youth about financial literacy.

The "I Got Bank!" youth essay & art contest is part of a larger OneUnited Bank initiative to make financial literacy a core value in America.

To learn more about past I Got Bank winners, visit the OneUnited Bank Financial Literacy Blog.

OneUnited Bank also offers its robust Financial Education Center with online playlists on Financial Basics, Major Life Decisions, Starting a Career, Small Business and Preventing Elder Fraud. OneUnited Bank hopes its efforts will improve the financial skills of children and adults throughout the country.

Media Inquiries: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing, 400587@email4pr.com, or by phone at 305-576-3790.

OneUnited Bank is the nation's largest Black-owned bank, eleven-time recipient of the US Department of Treasury's Bank Enterprise Award for community development and named Inc. Magazine's Best in Financial Services 2024.