Sosialisasi Gemar Menabung Melalui Tabungan Pelajar Bank Sumut Bagi Siswai Di Lingkungan Sekolah Yayasan Dharma Wanita Persatuan Provinsi Sumatera Utara

Abstract

This community service program was designed to strengthen students’ financial literacy and foster saving behavior through the socialization of the Student Savings Account (Tabungan Pelajar/SimPel) offered by Bank Sumut. Financial literacy is widely recognized as a fundamental competency that influences individual financial decision-making and long-term economic well-being. Nevertheless, national survey data indicate that financial literacy levels among Indonesian students remain relatively low, emphasizing the urgency of structured financial education from an early age. The program was implemented at Yayasan Dharma Wanita Persatuan School, North Sumatra Province, involving elementary and junior high school students. The implementation employed an educative-participatory approach consisting of preparation, implementation, and evaluation stages. The activities included interactive lectures, contextual financial education sessions, saving simulations, group discussions, and structured pre-test and post-test assessments to evaluate cognitive improvement.The results demonstrated a measurable enhancement in students’ understanding of fundamental financial concepts, the advantages of utilizing formal banking services, and the procedures for opening student savings accounts. The average post-test score increased by 35% compared to the pre-test score, indicating a significant improvement in financial literacy. Furthermore, students exhibited stronger motivation and intention to open student savings accounts, reflecting positive behavioral tendencies toward financial responsibility. In conclusion, this program contributes to advancing regional financial inclusion and aligns with national financial literacy development strategies. Sustainable institutional collaboration between educational institutions and banking sectors is essential to ensure long-term behavioral transformation and continuous financial education reinforcement among students.