Education

Education Lights the Way

We’re committed to giving back to the communities we serve. That’s why we support educational programs that aim to provide today’s youth with a strong foundation for future success.

Growing a Love for Learning

At City National, one of our most significant goals is to empower children and adults within our communities by providing more access to the tools they need to thrive.

By reinvesting millions in Dollars + Sense and 22 years of Reading is The way up®, we’ll continue to help provide others with the education needed to succeed in today’s world.



We’ve donated more than 34,000 backpacks since 2010.


More than 1.3M children have benefited from our Reading is The way up literacy programs.


21,000+ students utilized our Dollars + Sense financial education program in 2024.

Making Dollars + Sense

Teaching people about sound money management skills as early as possible is critical to their future success.
That’s why Dollars + Sense was born.

This financial education program helps children and adults improve their understanding of concepts and strategies around personal finances.

Free and easily accessible online, Dollars + Sense is a self-paced series of interactive modules that cover key financial concepts such as saving, investing, credit scores and identity protection, and it’s available in both English and Spanish.

Simply register or log in to start planning your financial future today!

 

A Multimillion-Dollar Commitment to Los Angeles

To get opportunities for financial education in the hands of more children in a fun and engaging way, we partnered with the second-largest school district in the country, Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD).

In 2019, City National made a $1 million commitment to offer Dollars + Sense to every high school in the district. We renewed that commitment in 2022 and have provided 175,000+ hours of financial education to nearly 56,000 students to date.

Reading is The way up

The year 2024 marks the 22nd anniversary of Reading is The way up, a program we started in 2002 as an authentic way to provide children access to books and get them excited about reading. 

Today, this initiative has evolved to promote literacy in young people from kindergarten through high school.

In our two decades of working to support literacy, we have donated more than 1.2 million books and more than 1.3 million children have benefited.

We are proud to be the only corporation awarded the National Book Foundation’s Innovation in Reading Prize.

 

For kids to succeed in school, the right tools and equipment make an outsized difference. That’s why, in 2024, we supplied more than 6,400 backpacks stocked with school supplies to K-12 students.

We also piloted our book vending machine program in Nevada, where children are given free books as a reward for positive actions. We will be expanding the program to more cities in 2025.

Backpacks

We supplied more than 6,400 backpacks stocked with school supplies to K-12 students in 2024.

Students

In total, 7,000+ students benefited from our 2024 backpack and book giveaways.

L.A. Unified School District

We provide Dollars + Sense financial education for all Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school students. Over 56,000 students have benefited since 2019.

Investing in Early Career Talent Through Hands-On Development

We believe in the power of education and experience to shape future leaders.

Our early career programs provide aspiring professionals with meaningful opportunities to gain real-world skills, industry knowledge and direct exposure to senior leadership.

Each summer, 20 interns join our teams for hands-on learning and problem-solving, gaining valuable insight into the corporate world. Through our rotational programs, nearly 30 early career professionals receive up to two years of structured skill development, mentorship and career guidance, preparing them for long-term success.

We partner with organizations to expand access to our programs, helping high-potential individuals launch their careers. More than just an educational experience, these programs serve as a key talent pipeline, reinforcing our commitment to cultivating the next generation of industry leaders. At City National, we ensure that early career professionals are fully integrated into our teams, fostering a culture where they can thrive and contribute from day one.