Acting Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould underscored the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) commitment to expanding financial literacy, particularly in the digital realm, during a Financial Literacy and Education Commission meeting. His remarks highlighted the growing need for consumers to understand both the opportunities and risks of the modern digital financial system.
Gould noted that while technological advances allow Americans to open bank accounts with a smartphone and access financial services around the clock, criminals are also leveraging these same technologies for increasingly sophisticated scams. “Helping Americans understand the opportunities as well as the risks of the new digital financial system is one of the defining financial literacy tasks of the 21st century,” Gould stated, emphasizing that the Trump Administration is leading this effort.
The Comptroller pointed to practical OCC resources like HelpWithMyBank.gov and its Financial Literacy Resource Directory, which assist consumers with bank-related questions and educate them on fraud prevention. He also praised community banks as indispensable partners, leveraging their local knowledge and personal relationships to improve financial literacy. A recent roundtable with community banks and regional institutions focused on how these entities are advancing financial education in their communities.
Reinforcing the message, Gould quoted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “For Americans to believe in capitalism, they need the opportunity to participate in it.” Gould argued that financial literacy not only benefits families and local economies but also fosters a culture of ownership and economic opportunity that strengthens free enterprise. The OCC plans to continue collaborating with financial institutions and educators under Secretary Bessent’s leadership to promote these goals.
