OREANDA-NEWS.  September 12, 2013. In order to help financial consumers acquire financial knowledge, get adequate information of the financial products and services, and benefit more from the achievements of the financial sector reform and development, the PBC has decided to launch Financial Knowledge Popularization Month in September every year starting from 2013. The event will be officially kicked off across the country on September 1 this year.

The themes of Financial Knowledge Popularization Month in 2013 are to popularize financial knowledge, expand the coverage of financial services, so that more consumers can benefit from the achievements of reform and development in the financial sector; to foster consumer’s awareness of risk and responsibility, and the concept of Consumers being Aware of the Risks, Financial Insitutions being Responsible for the Consumers’ Investment. The slogan of this year’s popularization is acquiring financial knowledge, getting to know risks and responsibilities, and building a harmonious financial sector.

The events of Financial Knowledge Popularization Month mainly include two parts this year. The first is to meet the need of different financial consumers, and targeted events of financial knowledge education will be designed and launched, so that financial consumers can learn the financial knowledge based on their requirements. The second is to guide financial consumers to identify the risks of financial products and services, so that they will have a clear understanding of the risks and responsibilities of financial institutions and financial consumers, and the necessary measures to cope with such a situation.

During the month, the PBC headquarter will organize its branches and sub-branches, and financial institutions to bring financial knowledge to institutions of higher learning, communities, rural areas, and enterprises. The PBC staff will hand out education materials such as Financial Knowledge Publicity Reading to financial consumers. In the meantime, the soft copy of these materials including Financial Knowledge Publicity Reading will be posted on the official website of PBC to be downloaded by consumers.

The PBC branch offices at various levels will organize young volunteers to participate in the education and popularization activities.

Besides, the Financial Consumer Protection Bureau of PBC has designed Financial Consumers Literacy Questionnaire. Starting from 2013, a survey will be conducted on a regular basis, and the outcome of surveys will show the effectiveness of previous rounds of consumer education, lack of specific knowledge, demand for knowledge as well as behavior features of financial consumers. Based on these surveys, targeted programs will be designed to make the Financial Knowledge Popularization Month more effective in next September.