IT has been said that Brazilian children are brought up on football and Swiss kids on skiing. Judging by the time and resources being employed by some institutions, it could be said there's a concerted effort to bring Irish youngsters up on the banking system.

"We develop educational resources for primary and post-primary level in close consultation with teachers and the clearing banks to give a greater understanding of finance and the banking system," says Felix O'Regan, manager of the Irish Banks' Information Service (IBIS).

"These resources include a tri-annual Bank Brief publication for teachers which discusses current developments in the market place - whether it be EMU, the GATT agreement, interest rates, consumer credit and money laundering legislation - and how they affect the banking system and relate to the curriculum.

"This assists the teacher in covering topical items in class. I expect, for example, that the Taylor affair will be covered in a forthcoming Bank Brief"

The IBIS also publishes Banking in Ire/and, which gives an overview of the Irish banking system, its origins, how bank charges are set and how technology is changing the industry, and the Irish Banking Factfile, which is an information folder covering a range of banking issues. Both of these are suitable for teachers and students.

Its Money go round programme, which operates in primary schools and has involved the expenditure of £200,000 to date, emphasises the importance of being responsible with money and the efficacy of saving through a variety of mediums.

"We're also developing a video resource for student-use which should be launched sometime next January. It will stress efficient borrowing and the importance of budgeting."

Although the IBIS acts on behalf of the major clearing banks (AIB, BOI, NIB, TSB and the Ulster Bank), O'Regan claims none of its educational "resources" carry any branding or marketing from the major banks.

"The major banks," he says, "are getting nothing in the short term from sponsoring the educational resources provided by the IBIS. In the long term, however, if people develop a greater understanding of the banking system and know how it works, they will become informed users of the system. Informed users are good for business and good for the country."

Norwich Union launched its life skills programme for Transition Year students last week. With the help of four modules, this programme aims to provide an understanding of financial situations - such as mortgages, insurance schemes, household budgets and loan options - that occur during a typical lifetime.

"We've been developing this life skills programme in conjunction with many educationalists for two years," says Anne Mathews, group public relations officer with Norwich Union. The programme's four modules educate students about real life financial situations they will Probably face at some stage in their lives.

Norwich Union's logo appears on the outside of the four modules, but Mathews says there is no further marketing or mention of the institution's name.

"Our research has shown that many people don't know the difference - and therefore the benefits - of different types of savings, insurance and mortgage schemes. By being involved in educating people about these things, we expect the whole industry, ourselves included, to benefit in the long run.

"We sent 880 teacher packs to schools around the country last week. Since then, my phone hasn't stopped ringing with enthusiastic teachers looking for more information about this programme."

There is nothing new about the major banks targeting students as an outlet for new business. The banks hope that they can catch their customers young - students may stay with the same bank as adults.

What is relatively new, however, is the way in which banks and financial institutions are becoming pro-active - through various educational schemes - in their approach to improving the image and knowledge of their industry.