In the financial services industry it is clear that credit plays an important role in how institutions are able to serve current and potential customers. In an effort to better educate future clientele, AmSouth Bank has made a bold and courageous move by sponsoring and providing credit literacy training to college and high school students in Alabama, Honda, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The presentations, entitled "Staying on Course", began in 1999 and since that time have reached over 55,000 students with a strong message regarding the dos and don'ts of credit. There are many reasons AmSouth's efforts should be applauded and appreciated. An alarming number of college students have resorted to using credit and credit cards as a way to supplement their purchasing habits or educational expenses. The negative result of this action is the fact that a record number of college students are filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. More are falling behind on payments causing negative credit histories and many are so deeply in debt during and after college, that they begin their working lives carrying a financial burden.

AmSouth's presentation stresses the importance of using credit wisely and keeping credit reports free of derogatory information. In addition, they emphasize that a person's credit history may be reviewed by future employers as part of the hiring process. It is stressed to students that irregardless of their grade point average if a future employer requires a good credit history and the student has been abusive, they may not be hired.

This could result in a reduction of the quality of life that individual will experience. This point particularly gets the attention of students working to accomplish the dream of building a better life.

Another major point made during the presentation is that people with bad credit will pay more for credit than their counterparts with good credit because they are considered riskier. The same holds true for insurance. An individual can expect to pay more for car insurance if they have bad credit. These and other issues are being shared with students across the Southeast because AmSouth Bank decided almost four years ago to provide credit literacy to students to better educate them on how to properly handle their personal finances. "We consider it an investment that will yield future benefits to the bank, our customers and communities", said Jeff Gish, AmSouth Corporate Community Reinvestment Manager.

The "Staying on Course" Program is currently being provided to students on nine college campuses in Alabama; Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bishop State Community College, Jacksonville State University: Lawson State Community College, Miles College, Selma University, Stiliman College, and Tuskegee University: In addition, to these Alabama colleges, twenty-one other Southeast colleges participate each fall. Equally as important is that AmSouth sponsors the same presentation at thirty urban high schools in the Southeast. Gish states, "Providing credit education to our young people is critical. The earlier they learn about how to responsibly utilize credit, the more value they will add to their financial future."