Southern Michigan Bank & Trust (SMBT) was recently recognized by the Michigan Bankers Association (MBA) with both the 2026 Financial Literacy Award and the Innovator of the Year Award for the bank’s commitment to advancing financial education and creating meaningful community impact.

The Innovator of the Year Award, presented annually by the MBA, recognizes a member bank that demonstrates exceptional forward-thinking initiatives and a strong commitment to excellence within the banking industry. SMBT earned the recognition for the creation of Financially Fit, the bank’s free online financial literacy resource center, available to both SMBT customers and non-customers, that launched in July 2025.

Designed to empower individuals of all ages –  from teens opening their first account to adults planning for retirement –  Financially Fit was created to make financial education approachable, practical, and relevant. The platform provides access to interactive resources including self-paced courses, quizzes, blogs, videos, downloadable tools, and educational guides covering a wide range of financial topics.

“Your efforts help individuals and families build stronger financial futures,” said Rann Paynter, President and CEO of the MBA. “We appreciate your dedication to this important work.”

Financially Fit organizes content into five life-stage categories – teens, emerging adults, established adults, empty nesters, and retirees – allowing users to quickly access information most relevant to their financial journey. Key topics include budgeting, college and money management, buying a first home, debt repayment strategies, investment planning, retirement preparation, and more.

“Financial decisions are made every day and impact us throughout our entire lives,” said Quinn White, Vice President, Head of Marketing for SMBT.  “We believe everyone should have access to clear, practical financial education that empowers informed decision-making at every stage of life, and Financially Fit provides the tools and resources to support that journey.”

To learn more about Financial Fit, visit www.smbtfinanciallyfit.com