National contest challenges teens to share smart money management lessons through short-form video
The American Bankers Association Foundation today announced that banks across the country are now accepting entries for its 16th annual Lights, Camera, Save! video contest, which runs through Dec. 1.
Lights, Camera, Save! invites teens ages 13-18 to create a video of 30 seconds or less demonstrating the importance of smart money management and submit it to a participating bank in their community. The contest is open to teen creators of all experience levels, empowering young people to share practical financial lessons with their peers. According to the CFPB, the money-management skills teens develop – including planning, saving and budgeting – can help shape the financial behaviors they carry into adulthood.
The competition is one of the ABA Foundation’s most popular financial education programs.
“Lights, Camera, Save! provides a platform for teens to amplify their voices and inspire others to build strong financial habits,” said Lindsay Torrico, executive director of the ABA Foundation. “Every year, we’re impressed by the authenticity, insight and enthusiasm contestants bring to the competition, and we look forward to seeing how this year’s participants leverage their creativity to promote financial wellness.”
Participating banks will conduct the first round of judging and select a local winner to advance to the national competition, where the public will vote on ABA’s Instagram page to decide who advances to the final round.
National finalists will compete for a $10,000 grand prize, $5,000 second-place prize and $2,500 third-place prize. The contest also includes a teacher recognition component that awards $300, $200 and $100, respectively, to the educators identified by the three national winners.
In the most recent competition, students from across the country submitted a record number of entries, with finalists creating videos on topics ranging from saving for college to avoiding debt and planning for future expenses. View the 2025-2026 winning videos.
The ABA Foundation deeply appreciates Visa’s sponsorship of this year’s Lights, Camera, Save! contest. Visa’s support allows the Foundation to offer the program free of charge to participating banks nationwide while supporting enhanced prizes and teacher recognition awards.
Any bank interested in participating can still register with the ABA Foundation and receive contest materials, promotional resources and customer support free of charge.
Students interested in entering the contest can learn more at lightscamerasave.com.