A recent report by SunTrust Banks, Inc. indicates that nearly three-quarters of Americans report experiencing financial stress and 80 percent of people admit that their personal finances keep them awake at night. 

With millions of Americans watching, SunTrust Bank launched the Onward and Upward—or onUp—campaign with a 30-second ad during Super Bowl 50. The ad, titled “Hold Your Breath,” is a reminder that worrying about money can cause a person to miss the everyday joys of life. The ad points to SunTrust’s onUp.com website, which provides information and tools to help individuals improve their money management skills. 

Website visitors are prompted to take a short quiz to determine their financial profile and then sign-up for periodic e-newsletters that are customized to the individual’s financial profile. The e-newsletters contain steps people can begin taking immediately, as well as long-term goals focused on improving an individual’s quality of life and reducing financial stress. 

“The onUp campaign is a movement,” said Gene Perkins, President of SunTrust Bank, West Georgia region. “We are creating awareness and starting the process for people to make better financial decisions.” 

The SunTrust report also revealed that 40 percent of Americans have less than $2,000 saved for emergencies, and 60 percent of millennials (approximately between ages of 18 to 34) have less than $2,000 in savings. 

“We have a culture of spending and an immediate gratification mindset,” said Perkins. “We are starting a discussion to identify that there is a problem, but that people can do something about the problem and start making things better.” 

Perkins said that according to a recent study from Experian, Columbus ranks 19th for U.S. cities with the worst credit scores and the average debt per resident is $30,045. He also stated that whether the stress is as a result of a lack of financial education or simply not knowing where to start, SunTrust has an opportunity to help Columbus residents gain control of their money and move toward financial confidence. 

“In Columbus, we have opportunities to make a difference, much like we do on a national or state level,” said Perkins. “Many of our residents are living below the poverty level (18.8 percent), and we believe that we can help make this situation better. We want to do this every day, with as many people as we can.”

Perkins said a person’s first step is making a deliberate decision to improve their finances. “To make good financial decisions, you need to make sure you are educated on the topics, like knowing how to manage your debt, understanding what it means to have a credit card, and creating a budget.” 

SunTrust clients and non-clients are encouraged to visit the onUp website where they will find  numerous articles and resources focused on topics including how to determine your net worth, what are the best investment strategies, how to purchase a home, and ways to reduce personal debt and increase personal savings. 

“We are helping by giving a little push,” said Perkins. “With this motivation, I think a lot of the issues people face can be addressed by taking a first step, then another. Starting with small steps, doing some of the day-to-day small things, will help all of us be more financially confident and successful which will reduce stress.” 

To join the conversation, visit online https://onupmovement.suntrust.com/ or through social media at facebook.com/suntrust or Twitter @SunTrust.