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Commerce State Bank, West Bend, WI

Entry Year: 2018
Entry Category: Financial Education
Asset Size: Small
Program Name: This May Be a Dumb Question, But How Does Money Work?

Program Summary:

In addition to being the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Commerce State Bank, Joe Fazio is a published author, community leader, public speaker, and entrepreneur.

Joe’s recently published (July 2017) book, "This might be a dumb question but … HOW DOES MONEY WORK?” is the result of his 3-year effort to provide people with a basic understanding of money. Most importantly, it explains money in a simple, easy-to-understand format that anyone can use practically, after just a few hours of reading. Joe’s passion for explaining money simply begins with the belief that we need to stop talking about financial literacy because the term itself scares away the very people it intends to help. Instead, we should just ask, “Who wants to learn about money?”

He self-published the book on Amazon.com and it has already sold over 1,500 copies. Joe has donated the book to a jail literacy program, an adult literacy program, and an advocacy group for victims of abuse, colleges and high schools to teach personal finance, and he has spoken to colleges, high schools, and business groups.

The book, and Joe, have drawn significant attention from the media: the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a front-page story, and he’s been interviewed by WLS 890 AM in Chicago and in Wisconsin by The Biz Connection Radio Show that airs on 1420AM, 1340AM, 98.7FM, WHBL, and WQYL-DB. Joe has also been recognized by the Governor of the State of Wisconsin and the banking industry.