Brussels, 19 May 2026 – The European Banking Federation (EBF) was the proud host of the 9th edition of the European Money Quiz, Europe's largest financial literacy competition for students aged 13-15. National winning teams from 30 countries, including the winning team from Serbia, gathered in Brussels this week to compete for the title of European champions and celebrate the importance of financial education.
Since its launch in 2017, the European Money Quiz has become one of the flagship initiatives of European Money Week, reflecting the strong commitment of the European banking sector to promoting financial literacy from an early age. Organised together with national banking associations across Europe, the initiative helps young people develop practical financial skills and confidence to navigate an increasingly complex financial world.
The quiz challenged students on financial topics relevant to young people, including saving, long-term planning, digital finance, cybersecurity awareness, fraud prevention and responsible money management.
Sixty students qualified for the European finals in Brussels, accompanied by teachers and representatives of national banking associations. The two-day program included a final quiz competition, educational activities and visits related to financial education and European institutions.
EKN 2026 gathered participants from 30 countries: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.
Team Serbia at this year's competition consisted of Etel Tordaji, from the "Borislav Petrov Braca" High School in Vršac, and Aida Hasani from the School of Economics in Pirot, accompanied by their teachers and representatives of the Association of Serbian Banks. Ethel and Aida, as the winners of the national round of the competition, were given the opportunity to compete in the grand European final, but also to visit the opening of the Euronext European stock exchange, the visitor center of the European Parliament in Brussels and Wikifin Lab, an interactive center for financial education, during visits organised by the ASB and EBF.
The finalists demonstrated an impressive level of knowledge and engagement throughout the competition, answering questions on topics ranging from saving and investing to cyber security, fraud awareness and responsible money management.
This year's European champions are the team from Greece, who secured first place after a very competitive final. The team from Latvia won second place, while Italy completed the podium in third place.
Wim Mijs, CEO of the European Banking Federation, said: “The European Money Quiz has become a wonderful example of how cooperation across Europe can help young people build essential life skills. Every year, we are impressed by the participants’ enthusiasm, curiosity and level of knowledge. Financial literacy is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, and initiatives like this help young Europeans gain the confidence to make informed financial decisions from an early age."
Financial literacy continues to gain importance across Europe. In 2025, the European Commission launched its Financial Literacy Strategy as part of the broader Savings and Investments Union agenda, recognising the importance of equipping citizens with the knowledge and confidence to make sound financial decisions throughout their lives. The strategy also highlights the importance of cooperation between public authorities, education systems and private stakeholders.
As a long-standing advocate for financial education, the EBF and its members remain committed to supporting initiatives that help citizens build financial resilience and confidence throughout their lives.
