Make a 30-Second Money Video. Win Up to $10,000. Entries Due Dec. 1.

Here's a challenge. Can you teach someone something about money in just 30 seconds?

That's less time than most commercials. It's about the length of a short song intro. And a national contest says the best 30-second money video could win its maker $10,000.

The deadline is December 1, 2026. If you're a teen, or you know one, there's still time. Let's go through the rules, look at what past winners did, and build a plan.

It's a national video contest for teens ages 13 to 18, run by the American Bankers Association Foundation, where entrants make a video of 30 seconds or less about using money wisely. The 2026-27 round was announced in October 2026.

Filmmakers of all experience levels can enter. You don't need a fancy camera. A phone is fine. What matters is the message, the quality, and the content.

Burke & Herbert Bank, based in the Alexandria, Virginia area, is one of the banks hosting entries. According to the bank's release, it judges entries in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, and each state's top winner moves on to the national round.

If you live somewhere else, don't give up yet. Other banks take part in the contest too, so ask a local bank or check the contest information to see where you can enter.

The steps are short.

1. Make a video of 30 seconds or less about using money wisely.
2. Post it somewhere you can share a link to, such as a video site.
3. Fill out the entry form.
4. Send the link and the form to the bank by December 1, 2026.

You can find the details at burkeandherbertbank.com/contest, or by emailing save@burkeandherbertbank.com. If you're under 18, ask a parent or guardian to read the official rules with you. Rules matter in contests. Missing one can knock out a great video.

Don't wait until the last night. Video files are slow to upload, links break, and forms sometimes need a signature.

There are two levels of prizes, regional and national.

National cash prizes are $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second, and $2,500 for third. For the regional level, Burke & Herbert's release says the top winner in each of its six states receives $500, and each first-place regional winner's teacher receives a $100 gift card.

That teacher prize is a nice touch. It says that the person who helped you learn also gets recognized.

Here's how national judging works. The first round happens on the American Bankers Association's Instagram page, where the public votes on which videos advance to the second round. So your video needs to be clear enough that a stranger can get it in a few seconds, with no explaining.

The ABA Foundation announced its 2026 national winners on March 6, 2026. The first-place winner, Adam Costa, won $10,000 for a video called "It All Adds Up!" Second place, $5,000, went to Ethan Gardiner for "Climbing the College Mountain." Third place, $2,500, went to Logan Ivory for "Don't Fall Prey to the Debt Trap."

Look at those titles for a second. Each one tells you the idea before the video even starts. One is about small habits adding up. One is about saving for college. One is about avoiding debt.

The ABA release also noted a record number of entries that year, and that the first- and second-place winners attended the same school. A Bankers' Choice award went to Micah Hill for "Declined and Confused," chosen by attendees at a bankers' conference.

So the winning ideas were simple, memorable, and about real money problems.

Pick one idea. Just one.

You can't explain budgeting, saving, credit, taxes, and investing in half a minute. But you can explain one small thing well. Here are some ideas to spark your thinking:

• Why saving $5 a week turns into $260 in a year
• The difference between a want and a need
• What happens when you only pay the minimum on a credit card
• How a savings account earns interest
• A funny skit about a purchase that went wrong
• How to check a price before you buy

Choose the idea that makes you curious. If you're bored by it, viewers will be too.

Now test it. Say your idea out loud to a friend in two sentences. If they get it, you're ready. If they look confused, narrow it down.

Short videos need a plan. Every second counts.

Try a simple structure:

1. Seconds 0 to 5: Hook. Ask a question or show something surprising.
2. Seconds 5 to 20: Show the idea with one example.
3. Seconds 20 to 30: Give the takeaway, plus one thing the viewer can do.

Write the script first, then shoot. A 30-second script is only about 75 words, so keep sentences short. Read it out loud with a timer. If it runs long, cut. Cutting is hard but always makes videos better.

Use clear sound. People will forgive a shaky shot more than they'll forgive words they can't hear. Film near a window for light, and hold the phone steady against a stack of books or a tripod.

Think about the videos you finish watching versus the ones you swipe away from in two seconds. The finished ones usually do three things.

First, they're clear. Someone who knows nothing about the topic can follow them. Second, they feel real. A true story about a time you wasted money beats a stiff lecture. Third, they leave one idea behind. Not five. One.

Humor can help, but only if the message survives the joke. A silly skit about a kid who buys a pile of snacks and can't pay for a bus ticket is funny, and it teaches the difference between wants and needs. A skit that's only silly gets forgotten.

Ask three people to watch your draft with the sound on. Then ask each one, "What was the main point?" If all three give the same answer, you've got it. If you hear three different answers, trim and try again.

Be a coach, not a director. The video should sound like the teen, not like an adult.

Parents can help by checking the contest rules, setting a family deadline a week before the real one, and offering feedback after the first draft. Ask questions like "What do you want people to remember?" instead of rewriting scripts.

Teachers can help in a different way. The contest rewards teachers of regional winners, so some classrooms may like to turn it into an assignment. A short script-writing exercise teaches clear thinking about money.

And if your family tracks money together, the contest is a great excuse to talk about it. A notebook with columns for money in, money out, and savings works well. If your family likes organized plans, a spreadsheet does too, and a planning tool like Foundra can help a young founder write down goals. Pick whatever you'll actually use.

• Lights, Camera, Save! is a national video contest for teens ages 13 to 18, with a deadline of December 1, 2026 for Burke & Herbert Bank entries.
• Videos must be 30 seconds or less and focus on using money wisely.
• National prizes are $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500.
• The 2026 winners' titles each told a clear, simple idea.
• Pick one idea, write a 75-word script, and keep the sound clear.
• Read the official rules with a parent or guardian before you submit.

Who can enter? Teens ages 13 to 18. Filmmakers of all experience levels are welcome.

How long can the video be? Thirty seconds or less.

When is the deadline? For Burke & Herbert Bank, entries are due December 1, 2026. Other participating banks may have their own dates, so check with the bank you plan to enter through.

Can I enter if I don't live in Virginia? Burke & Herbert judges entries in six states: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Other banks take part in the contest as well, so ask a local bank or review the contest information.

Do I need expensive equipment? No. The contest is open to all experience levels, and a phone is enough.

Where can I get the official rules? Visit burkeandherbertbank.com/contest or email save@burkeandherbertbank.com.

1. Call for Entries: Burke & Herbert Bank Launches Teen Video Contest, Finviz
2. Lights, Camera, Save! contest page, Burke & Herbert Bank
3. Lights, Camera, Save! 2026 National Winners, American Bankers Association Foundation
4. Burke & Herbert Bank launches teen video contest, Pluang News, October 2026