By Emily Burleigh

Merchants & Farmers Bank has collaborated with Marvel Comics and Visa to nurture financial literacy in local communities.

Bank locations in Calcasieu and Vernon parishes are handing out free custom edition comic books while supplies last.  The special editions of “Black Panther,” “Avengers,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” were created by Marvel Comics and Visa to teach young readers “fundamental money management concepts in an entertaining and engaging way” to introduce them to healthy personal finance habits, according to a release.

Readers can learn about investing with Black Panther and Shuri, savings with the Avengers and long-term financial planning with the Guardians and the Galaxy.

Wendy Lentz, vice president of marketing, Merchants and Farmers Bank, explained to the American Press that engaging youth with financial literacy early can only help them reap long-term benefits.

“The earlier you start to become financially literate, the better off you’ll be because it can help start a lifelong journey of learning about the financial aspects of your life.”

Financial literacy is beneficial for everyone. She said that access to financial literacy resources “can help support various life goals, such as saving for education or retirement and using debt responsibly” by providing citizens with the skills they need to promote financial health.

“When you are financially literate, you have the essential foundation for a smart relationship with money. Education is the key to a successful financial future.

These comic books are available in Calcasieu and Vernon banks while supplies last and are available to view digitally for free online.

This is not the only partnership that Merchants & Farmers Bank has with Visa.

Financial Football is an interactive video game created by Visa and the National Football League to teach children key concepts like saving, spending, budgeting and “the wise use of credit”

Additionally, Visa offers a free financial education program called Practical Money Skills. This is an interactive guide to “budgeting, saving, financial, calculators, games, lesson plans and resources,” according to the release.

It is designed for every age to improve their personal finance skills.

All free resources are accessible online under the “Resources” tab at www.merchantsandfarmers.com.