Piketon, OH (May 14, 2026) — Atomic Credit Union President and CEO Thomas Griffiths joined some of the nation’s top financial leaders this week for a national financial literacy roundtable hosted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Participants included Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould, National Credit Union Administration Chairman Kyle Hauptman, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Travis Hill. The discussion was moderated by Special Assistant to President Trump, Emory Cox.
The roundtable also served as a precursor discussion leading into this year’s G20 Summit, where leaders and representatives from the world’s top 20 economies will convene to address some of the most pressing global economic and financial issues. Discussions from the roundtable are expected to help shape broader conversations at the international level surrounding financial literacy, consumer financial protection, economic opportunity, and strategies to better prepare future generations for long-term financial success.
During the event, National Credit Union Administration Chairman Kyle Hauptman emphasized the importance of financial education, and the role financial institutions can play in helping young Americans build strong financial foundations.
Representing Atomic Credit Union, Atomic Credit Union President and CEO Thomas Griffiths highlighted the credit union’s nationally recognized Student-Run Credit Union Program, which has spent over a decade equipping students across southern Ohio with practical financial skills. The credit union currently serves students in nearly 100 schools and is preparing to expand into more than 100 schools during the 2026–2027 academic year.
The program has become a model for experiential learning by allowing students to gain hands-on financial experience directly inside their schools through student-run branches and interactive educational opportunities.
In addition to its work in schools, Atomic Credit Union President and CEO Thomas Griffiths has become a recognized advocate for financial literacy nationwide. Atomic Credit Union President and CEO Thomas Griffiths is the author of Financial Literacy for All, a book focused on expanding access to practical financial education and empowering communities through financial knowledge.
Atomic Credit Union has also played an active role in advancing conversations around financial literacy legislation and advocacy efforts, helping elevate the importance of personal finance education for students across Ohio and beyond. In 2025, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law Ohio’s operating budget for Fiscal Years 2026–2027. The operating budget included, among many other items, an amendment that promotes financial literacy in Ohio’s schools.
Currently, Ohio requires students to receive one-half unit of instruction (60 hours) in financial literacy. This amendment allows a board of education to adopt a policy allowing students to fulfill that requirement by participating in a student branch offered by a credit union or bank if it meets or exceeds the academic content standards and model curriculum for financial literacy and entrepreneurship instruction adopted under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code. This amendment was a direct result of the Student-Run Credit Union Program that has been offered by Atomic Credit Union over the last 15 years.
Here is what Thomas Griffiths, President and CEO of Atomic Credit Union, had to say about the opportunity to participate in the discussion:
“Financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools we can give the next generation. For more than a decade, Atomic Credit Union has been committed to meeting students where they are and providing real-world financial education that prepares them for life beyond the classroom. It was an honor to participate in this discussion alongside national financial leaders and contribute to conversations that will help shape the future of financial education not only in Ohio, but across the country and internationally.” — Thomas Griffiths, President and CEO of Atomic Credit Union
The roundtable included discussions on curriculum development, digital education tools, experiential learning programs, and collaborative strategies financial institutions can use to improve access to trusted financial guidance during key stages of life. The discussion also highlighted Trump Accounts and their potential to help young Americans begin building long-term financial stability at an early age. During the roundtable, Atomic Credit Union President and CEO Thomas Griffiths discussed the credit union’s commitment to researching and promoting opportunities connected to Trump Accounts through its Student-Run Credit Union Program and broader financial education initiatives.
“As we look to the future, we are assembling teams to research and promote Trump Accounts. It is our hope that every young person may have access to them to build wealth through compound interest. What better way to promote and offer Trump Accounts than through a Student-Run Credit Union Program.” — Thomas Griffiths, President and CEO of Atomic Credit Union.
