Payments 101: How Your Money Gets From One Place to Another
Explore the world of payment services and learn more about the vital role we play in the U.S. financial system through our online Payments 101 learning module!
Payments 101 is a fun, interactive learning module that introduces you to the Payments world in a whole new way. You’ll go back in time to learn about the first currencies used by humans (including shark teeth and wampum beads), how the Fed created a flexible nationwide currency system, the types of payment systems we use today, and what the future holds.
This self-led module takes about 30 minutes to complete. It’s suitable for middle- and high-school students, college students, educators, and anyone who would like to know more about this important Fed function.
To explore the module on your own: Launch module
Are you a teacher?
You can assign the Payments 101 module to your students and track their progress via the Econ Lowdown Teacher Portal.
- Preview the Payments 101 online module in Econ Lowdown.
- Visit the Econ Lowdown Teacher Portal to register your students for one or more of our online modules.
Related Resources
Your Connection to the Economy and the Federal Reserve Infographic is an infographic that guides students through their role in the economy, the Federal Reserve's role in the economy and the ways the Federal Reserve connects to their daily lives including through payments.
The Fed Explains the Payments System - Like a circulatory system for the economy, the U.S. payments system facilitates the flow of money between buyers and sellers. This animated video explores the Fed's role in keeping our monetary circulatory system healthy.
Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics
Standard 11: Money makes it easier to trade, borrow, save, invest, and compare the value of goods and services. The amount of money in the economy affects the overall price level. Inflation is an increase in the overall price level that reduces the value of money.
Benchmark 1, Grade 12: The basic money supply in the United States consists of currency, coins, and checking account deposits.
Benchmark 2, Grade 12: In many economies, when banks make loans, the money supply increases; when loans are paid off, the money supply decreases.
National Standards for Financial Literacy
Standard 2: Buying Goods and Services: People cannot buy or make all the goods and services they want; as a result, people choose to buy some goods and services and not buy others. People can improve their economic wellbeing by making informed spending decisions, which entails collecting information, planning, and budgeting.
Grade 8, Benchmark 3: People choose from a variety of payment methods in order to buy goods and services.
Grade 8, Benchmark 4: Choosing a payment method entails weighing the costs and benefits of the different payment options.