The National Bank & Trust Company is developing an app that will teach teenagers how to handle money responsibly.

NB&T, which has locations in DeKalb and Sycamore, is planning on releasing the app for teenagers later in the year after the recent release of their kids banking app.

Junior marketing major Eric Serena said a banking app for teenagers would be more efficient as they get closer to adulthood.

“It could give teenagers insight on banking,” Serena said.

NB&T introduced Banker Jr. on Nov. 18.

The app was created to teach children financial literacy with tools they use every day. Since its release, there have been close to 100 downloads.

Tami Armstrong, NB&T vice president and marketing director, said she hopes kids will develop good financial habits through the app.

“We want to improve the quality of life in the community,” Armstrong said. “It’s our responsibility as a financial institution to educate.”

NB&T is also exploring the idea of working with teachers to help teach math and money skills through the Banker Jr. app.

“[We] hope to partner with local schools,” Armstrong said. “[We] encourage teachers to try setting up a classroom account.”

Armstrong said having an NB&T account isn’t required to use Banker Jr. and it’s free.

“There’s no linking to a [bank] account, so there’s no security risks,” Armstrong said.

The app is aimed for children between the ages of 2 and 10. It offers six games with multiple levels to teach kids simple math and money concepts.

One of the games featured on Banker Jr. involves identifying pennies and nickels, then counting the amount.

“If I were 10, I would’ve liked to have this app,” said sophomore mathematics major Qi Yu.

The app can also work as a check register for children to manually keep track of money they’re earning and saving.