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Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua (left) and Ms Janet Young (centre), UOB’s head of group channels and digitalisation, strategic communications and brand, at the Financial Fitness Festival on Sept 27.
SINGAPORE – More than 1,000 residents in Central Singapore can attend free financial fitness workshops from January 2026 to strengthen their financial well-being.
A joint initiative by the Central Singapore Community Development Council and local bank UOB, this first-ever partnership of its kind aims to provide residents with tools to build sustained financial wellness and resilience.
Announcing the collaboration at the Financial Fitness Festival held at United Square on Sept 27, Mayor of Central Singapore District Denise Phua said that apart from investing in physical health, it is also important to proactively build financial wellness.
“With longer lifespans... changing lifestyles as well as higher aspirations across generations, financial fitness is a vital life skill for everyone,” she said.
Each workshop, which is designed for residents at different life stages – from first-time employees to retirees – focuses on strategies to improve financial health relevant to the participants’ current stage of life, such as budgeting and insurance for young families or legacy and retirement planning for pre-retirees. These programmes will be co-delivered by UOB and Central Singapore District.
The initiative also features an online quiz available to the public on the UOB website to assess their financial well-being. After answering nine questions on savings, insurance protection, investing and legacy planning, participants can download a report which shows how their results compare against general financial planning guidelines and peer groups based on age, gender and income.
As a complement to the workshops and quiz, UOB will contribute regular financial literacy articles through other outreach channels, such as Central Singapore CDC’s Voices magazine, which is distributed to all Central households.
“The topics will range from planning for emergencies to growing your savings smartly, to what the latest government support programme might be for you,” said Ms Phua , adding that this ensures residents continue to receive guidance .
UOB’s head of group channels and digitalisation, strategic communications and brand Janet Young said the initiative is not just about managing money.
Said Ms Young: “It’s about empowering individuals with the knowledge and habits to secure their financial future. Just as physical fitness requires regular check-ups and targeted exercises, financial fitness can be achieved through simple, consistent practices.”
She added that through this partnership, accessible education and practical tools can be used to build basic financial wellness by reaching a broad base of residents.
With financial worries weighing on many families, Ms Phua said some are concerned about how technological disruption, especially from artificial intelligence, may reshape the job market. Others, she said, think about what it means to live longer. This raises questions of how they will provide for themselves and their families and fulfil their aspirations in education, housing or retirement.
While these shifts can feel daunting, Ms Phua said they also present opportunities if one is well prepared. “That is why we must empower ourselves with practical... and person-centred financial knowledge,” she said.
While the Government has been discussing and reviewing important issues such as retirement adequacy, job creation and skills training to provide a strong social safety net for those most in need, Ms Phua said residents themselves have to act as well.
“The Government cannot do everything... Each one of us as individuals, what we need to do is also important. So, we need to do our part,” she said.
“Financial fitness, like physical fitness, is not a sprint. It’s a journey. And it’s a journey we pledge we want to take together with you.”
[SRC] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/central-singapore-cdc-and-uob-to-offer-residents-free-workshops-resources-for-financial-well-being
