Visa-supported Financial Literacy Championship Sets Participation Record as Students Develop AI-Powered Financial Solutions

10/13/2026

• Record participation in 2026 with over 46,000 online financial knowledge quiz submissions, marking a 54.5% year-on-year increase and reflecting strong momentum in financial literacy education.
• Since its inception in 2014, the Championship has engaged 452 schools, representing 93.2% of all secondary schools in Hong Kong.
• This year’s Championship focuses on nurturing AI-powered financial talent to prepare students for a rapidly evolving digital economy.

 

Visa, a global digital payment leader, proudly celebrated the conclusion of the 12th Hong Kong Financial Literacy Championship (‘Championship’), a flagship financial education program in Hong Kong that continues to inspire and equip youth with essential life skills for the digital era. Organised in collaboration with the Education Bureau of Hong Kong, China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and supported by Visa, this year’s Championship recorded its highest-ever participation, with over 46,000 online financial knowledge quiz submissions from nearly 27,000 students across approximately 280 schools.

Now in its 12th edition, the Championship has steadily expanded its reach and impact. Since its inception in 2014, the program has engaged over 200,000 submissions from 452 schools, representing 93.2% of secondary schools in Hong Kong. Building on this strong foundation, the Championship brings together students from Hong Kong and across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to develop financial knowledge, practical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset for the future.

Nurturing future financial talent in the age of AI

This year’s Championship places a strong focus on AI and its transformative role in finance and the global economy. As financial technology continues to evolve, the program highlights the growing importance of equipping students with the essential combination of financial literacy and digital capability. A key highlight of the Championship is the Young Financial Talent Runway (‘Runway’), where students take on the role of fintech entrepreneurs to design innovative, AI-powered financial solutions.

This year’s business challenge centres on developing solutions that support entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses across Hong Kong and international markets, while integrating anti-scam and fraud detection capabilities to enhance security and trust. Through this experience, students are encouraged not only to generate creative ideas, but also to translate them into practical, responsible and scalable solutions that reflect real-world business considerations.

"As AI redefines the velocity and fabric of global commerce, financial literacy must evolve from a basic life skill into a strategic capability," said Paulina Leong, General Manager of Visa Hong Kong and Macau. "Today, true financial fluency requires a deep understanding of the intelligent systems driving our digital economy. Through the Hong Kong Financial Literacy Championship, Visa is bridging the gap between classroom concepts and global commercial realities. By pairing ambitious young minds with industry leaders to tackle complex challenges like cross-border scaling and fraud prevention, we are not just teaching technology—we are cultivating the resilient, visionary leaders who will architect a more secure and inclusive financial future."

Empowering youth through AI and real-world learning

The 2026 Championship consisted of a multi-faceted program combining a 3-week online financial knowledge quiz with the Young Financial Talent Runway, complemented by training workshops, mentorship and hands-on challenges. The Runway offered students immersive learning through career skills training, mentorship from industry leaders, corporate exposure and a Grand Pitch involving 10 finalist teams.

The mentorship program featured a diverse lineup of industry leaders spanning finance, technology, consulting and innovation sectors. Participating professionals (in alphabetical order) came from Airwallex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cyberport, Global Payments, HSBC, Klook, KPMG, MTR Corporation, Set Sail AI, and ZA Bank, guiding students on business planning, emerging fintech trends and anti-scam strategies, and helping teams refine their solutions and deliver stronger, more impactful pitches.

As part of the Runway experience, finalist teams also took part in AI training sessions supported by Preface, providing direct exposure to real-world applications of artificial intelligence in financial services, from ideation to market analysis and solution development. In addition, students gained first-hand exposure to industry practices through a corporate visit to KPMG’s office, deepening their understanding of the professional services and financial ecosystem.

Students pitch AI-powered fintech solutions to drive business growth and financial security

The program culminated in the Grand Pitch on 11 July 2026, where finalist teams presented their AI-powered fintech solutions to a panel of judges, tackling real-world challenges such as business growth, financial security and fraud prevention. The team from Heep Yunn School won the champion title in the Young Financial Talent Runway, with their innovative proposal — "Bid Price Mechanics", an AI and blockchain-powered ticketing system that combines biometric verification and dynamic pricing to combat ticket scalping and reduce online shopping fraud losses. Meanwhile, the team from Pooi To Middle School secured first runner-up with their "BridgeWise AI", an intelligent cross-border payment and anti-fraud settlement platform designed to help GBA enterprises safely expand into overseas markets through AI assistance and blockchain contract liquidation. Additionally, St. Paul's Convent School came in as second runner up for their "PULICE" defence platform, which utilises near-infrared (NIR) technology to detect deepfake scams in live commerce, verifying streamer authenticity and instantly intercepting abnormal transactions to safeguard consumers.

 

Supported by Visa for the 12th consecutive year, the Hong Kong Financial Literacy Championship welcomed nearly 27,000 students from around 280 schools, with total participation exceeding 46,000 online financial knowledge quiz submissions, marking a record high for the program.

10 seasoned professionals from leading organisations across finance, technology and innovation sectors joined the Young Financial Talent Runway as mentors, providing hands-on guidance to finalist teams as they refined their AI-powered fintech solutions and presentation strategies.

The student team from Heep Yunn School won the champion title in the Young Financial Talent Runway Grand Pitch.

The student team from Pooi To Middle School was the first runner-up in the Young Financial Talent Runway Grand Pitch.

The student team from St. Paul's Convent School was second runner-up in the Young Financial Talent Runway Grand Pitch.

 

About the Championship

The Hong Kong Financial Literacy Championship is a collaborative effort of the Education Bureau of Hong Kong, China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, alongside Hong Kong Education City, St. James' Settlement, and Hong Kong Economic Journal Education. Supported by prominent corporations, banks and financial institutions, this Championship offers informative sessions that lay the foundation for students' understanding of financial skills and the digital and sustainable economy. The Championship has been awarded the Investor and Financial Education Council’s Investor and Financial Education Gold Award twice in three years.

 

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.