Wells Fargo & Co. has teamed up with the Iowa Newspaper Foundation (INF) to provide a financial literacy program aimed at Iowa high school students.

The program, called “Let’s Talk Money,” provides teaching materials from Wells Fargo’s Hands on Banking program that will be distributed to schools around the state.

The idea of the program is to give teachers material to teach high school students money management training, using the curriculum and exercises that involve using newspapers to find the most current information on financial topics.

“It came together from both sides being interested and wanting to get in touch with more schools out there, and having other really good programs to educate students on financial literacy at the high school level,” INF Program Director Jana Shepherd said.

The INF will distribute the materials either directly to the schools or to local newspapers that want to get involved. Part of the goal is to have newspapers support the program and develop relationships with the schools involved, Shepherd said.

The program is free to join for schools and newspapers. Wells Fargo provided the INF with a $7,500 grant to implement the program, as well as copies of teacher and student material.

“Let’s Talk Money” materials will be sent to participating schools in February. For information on signing up, e-mail Shepherd at jshepherd@inanews.com.