Starting Out with Banqer
In his first year of teaching, Matthew was looking for ways to engage his students and keep the classroom organised. “I came across Banqer in a Victorian teachers’ Facebook group,” he recalls. “Someone mentioned it as a behaviour management strategy that worked for them. I figured I’d give it a try. If it didn’t work, I’d just try something else.”
That first year, it stuck. The students embraced it, and Matthew quickly saw its potential beyond behaviour management. Now in his third year using the program, Banqer has become a fixture in his classroom routine.
Banqer fits neatly into Matthew’s teaching, especially in Term 3 when the focus is on financial maths in mathematics and economics and business in inquiry. He recently found the full extent of its curriculum links.
I didn’t realise til recently that Banqer has all the Australian curriculum connections right there on the site: maths, English, civics, with lesson plans. That’s excellent.
Jobs That Keep the Classroom Running
The employment feature has become a cornerstone of Matthew’s class. Students apply for jobs, write short applications, and get paid weekly. “It keeps everyone organised. They know what they’re responsible for, and if something’s not done, the others notice,” he says.
Banqer has also strengthened Matthew’s class culture and influenced the way students work together. “There’s a sense of fairness now. If you’re paid to do a job and it’s not done, someone will call it out. They’re learning to hold each other accountable,” he explains.
He used to keep job lists and pay rates on the whiteboard but found constant updates messy. “Now it’s all digital, and I can set up automatic payments.”
It’s one less thing for me to juggle and gives me more time to focus on teaching.
Auctions and Real-World Thinking
Every term ends with an auction where students bid for rewards like choosing the seating plan or picking the next term’s sport. “They’re learning delayed gratification,” Matthew says. “One of my kids got $1,000 for a class job and put it straight into savings for the auction. That’s a big decision for an 11-year-old.”
Sometimes he adds a twist, like triggering a natural disaster in the platform. “We’ll talk about why you insure property, what happens if you lose something. It turns into a discussion about risk and responsibility.”
It’s also encouraged decision-making and problem-solving. “They’re working out what to save, what to spend, what to insure. Even things like deciding which property to buy — they’re looking at deposits, costs, and returns. It’s all thinking they’ll use later in life.”
Skills That Reach Beyond the Classroom
Some of Matthew’s favourite moments come from parent feedback. “One family told me their child knew exactly what to do when they went to open their first bank account. They understood savings, interest, and online banking. That’s not something you usually get to teach in primary school.”
Parents have noticed their children making smarter financial decisions at home, from saving for bigger goals to weighing up purchases more carefully.
It’s building a positive relationship with money early on.
Advice from Experience
Matthew suggests starting small. “Begin with jobs and savings accounts, then add more modules during the year. It’s less overwhelming and keeps the excitement going.”
He’s also learned what to avoid. “I turn off student transfers now. In my first year, a couple of kids jokingly tried to ransom lunches for Banqer dollars. It was funny but… probably not the life lesson I was aiming for.”
For him, Banqer has become a core part of teaching. “It makes my life easier, my students love it, and the parents see the value. I’m really glad I found it when I did.”
Bringing financial literacy to your primary school is easy
Banqer Primary is available to all primary schools throughout Australia at no cost, thanks to our Champion Partner Netwealth. Click the button below, and our team will take you through a short demo to help you get started.
