Viva Kids World Journey of discovery through the bank
Level of knowledge: master
What do you know about the bank?
When you put money into your Digipigi, you are using a product from the bank. When else do you use things from the bank? For instance, have you ever deposited money into your account? Can you think of more examples?
Level of knowledge: professional
The ATM and the bank
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The head office
Each bank has a head office. There is only one of them. The head office is usually in a large, nice building. Many employees work there. The head office of Credit Suisse, for instance, is in Zurich on Paradeplatz.
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The branch
To make sure not everyone has to go to Zurich when they need something from the bank, there are branches. These are smaller banks located all across Switzerland, or even all across the world. Employees also work there; there are counters and ATMs.
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The ATM
With ATMs, the bank makes sure that everyone who has an account can withdraw money at any time – even when the head office or the branches are closed. That's why there are a lot of ATMs – even more than branches. You will often see them individually – at train stations, for instance.
Did you know...
Many banks are very big. They have many branches – often even all over the world – and many employees. More than 47,000 people, for instance, work at Credit Suisse. That's more than the number of people living in the city of Thun. They work in 50 countries, meaning one in every fourth country in the world.
Level of knowledge: expert
The digital safe
Bank robbers robbed a bank in Sweden. Because there was no longer any cash at the bank, the robbers left empty-handed. Because a lot of money only exists digitally on the computer, the bank must protect its computers and its systems well. After all, there are also thieves on the internet.
Bank experts know this
1. The ATM is the smallest unit of the bank. This is how the bank makes sure that everyone who has an account can withdraw money at any time.
2. In addition to the ATMs, there are also branches and a head office. Many people work there and there's always something going on.
3. In most bank head offices, there is indeed a large safe. They are mostly used to keep valuable objects.
After all, most money only exists digitally now.
4. To make sure the bank's safe is secure, it is well protected.
Also exciting
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There's no such thing as a free lunch
The Viva Kids still need 80 francs for their tree house. It's great that they can help Mr. Cash clear out the old garage and sell a few things at the flea market. They can earn a bit of extra cash that way. But then, things do not go according to plan...
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About coins and notes
No one needs Laura's stickers. So nobody wants to swap with her. What was it like back when people only used bartering? Is that why they invented money?
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The mystery of digital money
Jan's bank has sent him his first debit card. The Viva Kids want to use it to finally buy the remaining materials for their tree house. At the home improvement store, they realize that the card does not work. What is happening?
Ben
Ben is the youngest member of the Viva Kids gang. He knows a lot of jokes and has many ideas in his head, which is why you always laugh when you're around him.
Fortunately, Ben can also laugh about himself. Even when one of his experiments goes wrong. Ben happens to be a true tinkerer. His favorite thing is to program something useful on his computer.
Recently, Ben became the first of the Viva Kids to get a mobile phone. "Quite valuable," he thought to himself. Since then, he can't get a question out of his mind: "What is actually truly valuable?"