The Tribune

A Bahamian investment house teamed with the Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) to expand its financial literacy outreach with a series of educational initiatives in recognition of World Investor Week 2026.

RF Bank & Trust, in a statement, said that by partnering with the stock exchange it provided Bahamian students and creative industry professionals with practical knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their financial futures.

The initiatives included a ‘Brunch and Learn’ session held on October 6 for creative industry professionals, along with a school outreach programme targeting five New Providence schools - St John's College, Temple Christian School, R.M. Bailey Senior High School, C.I. Gibson Senior High School and Doris Johnson Senior High School.

The ‘Brunch and Learn’ brought together local photographers and videographers for an interactive conversation on financial literacy, investing and making smarter financial decisions. Discussions focused on investment fundamentals, including how to get started and how to identify investment opportunities.

The session also provided participants with an opportunity to speak directly with financial industry professionals, ask questions and explore how sound planning and investment strategies can support their personal and professional goals.

The school outreach programme focused on introducing students to essential financial concepts, including budgeting, saving and the fundamentals of investing. Through interactive discussions, students were encouraged to develop healthy financial habits, understand the importance of setting financial goals and recognise how decisions made early in life can influence their long-term financial well-being.

Rachael Allahar, RF Bank & Trust’s vice-president and chief marketing officer, said the initiatives reflect the institution's commitment to supporting financial education and empowering Bahamians with knowledge that can positively influence their futures.

"Financial literacy is an essential life skill, and we believe that everyone should have access to the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions," said Ms Allahar.

"By engaging students at an early age and creating opportunities for creative professionals to explore investing and financial planning, we are helping to build a stronger foundation for financial independence. Our partnership with BISX allows us to extend these important conversations into the community and encourage more Bahamians to take an active role in planning for their financial futures."

Keith Davies, BISX’s chief executive, added: "Investor education is most effective when it meets people where they are. Our partnership with RF Bank & Trust during World Investor Week reflects our shared commitment to making investing more accessible, helping individuals understand both the opportunities and the risks, and equipping them to make informed financial decisions.

"Through initiatives like our ‘Brunch and Learn’ events and our ongoing school tour, we are extending these conversations beyond the traditional financial space and building greater awareness across our communities. Together with RF Bank, we are helping to break down barriers to financial literacy and encouraging more people to approach investing with confidence, knowledge and care."

World Investor Week, observed internationally from October 5 to 11, is a global campaign promoted by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection. The 2026 campaign highlighted investor resilience, digital deception and investment scams.

While the RF Bank & Trust and BISX initiatives were tailored to address the financial education needs of Bahamian students and creative industry professionals, they supported the campaign's broader objective of providing persons with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed financial decisions.