Though Judy Long has experienced many changes during her 44-year banking career, there is one constant that has remained.

The President and Chief Operating Officer at First Citizens National Bank often sees women, even those involved in financial services, struggle with different aspects of financial literacy.

Long has met women in their 50s who have neglected saving for retirement in order to pay for their children’s education, widows who were left substantial estates but had no idea how to manage them, young professionals struggling to make ends meet, and divorcees who need to put together a household budget for the first time in years.

There’s even a need inside First Citizens National Bank, a sign of just how complex navigating personal finance can be.

“As you are out there listening, you realize this is not a problem for one certain age group, one demographic. It is universal,” Long said. “And you realize this is our job. We are in the financial services industry. We need to be out there on the front lines helping with financial literacy.”

Over the last two years, Long has helped her bank formulate a plan to tackle these struggles. The bank has partnered with the American Library Association to develop and launch its Smart Women initiative, which offers educational programs and other resources to women on a range of topics designed to boost financial independence. In partnership with the Williamson County Library Foundation, FirstCNB is now launching the community-based financial literacy program for women in Middle TN.

The bank also offers online resources that cover planning for retirement, buying a home, saving money and borrowing money. Women can access these materials anywhere, including computers provided at local libraries, via First Citizens National Bank’s website, www.FirstCNB.com.

Quarterly seminars focus on specific financial topics. The bank is hosting its first Smart Women seminar in Middle TN on April 9th. The seminar, offered at 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., is a free community event which will focus on the topic of The Long Term Care Puzzle: Protecting Assets and Caring for the Aging Person. The speakers, Jason Ladd with White and Associates Insurance and Barbara Moss with Elder Law of Nashville, come highly recommended.

Ladies can either RSVP through email at SmartWomenMidTN@FirstCNB.com or by phone at 615-550-2222. To register online for the 11:30 a.m. event, click HERE or the 6:00 p.m. event, click HERE. The event will take place at the Williamson County Public Library at 1314 Columbia Ave., Franklin, TN 37064.

About First Citizens National Bank: They are rooted in Tennessee with a reputation of being an Unbelievably Good community bank. Since opening their doors in Dyersburg in 1889, they have striven to give back and make a difference in the communities they serve. With 25 standalone locations in 11 Tennessee counties, FirstCNB is a statewide bank that is focused on each community that it serves.