MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – April is Financial Literacy Month to raise public awareness of the importance of smart money management habits. The goal of this month is make sure everyone has the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions.

Whether you’re just beginning your financial journey or already managing your budget, savings, and investments, this month is designed to strengthen your financial foundation, and help you understand how small changes today can lead to long-term financial success.

Studies show that financial literacy is directly linked to higher savings rates, lower levels of high-interest debt, and better financial decision-making.

But financial education remains inconsistent across the country. Personal finance is a leading cause of stress in relationships, and many young adults graduate without the financial skills they need to manage credit, debt, and savings. So, improving financial literacy can lead to greater financial stability and long-term success.

Creating greater financial wellness is a key component of Regions Bank’s community engagement strategy.

Regions provides easily accessible, no-cost financial education courses to anyone, whether they’re a Regions customer or not, with customized tools, online resources, webinars, podcasts and in-person sessions covering topics ranging from budgeting, to saving and understanding credit, to insights for small-business owners, college students and people planning for retirement — and every life event and milestone in between. Find more about Regions Next Step on the bank’s website.

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According to a report Friday (April 10) from Nikkei, a draft amendment before the country’s Cabinet would place crypto assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, a framework used for stocks and securities. 

Assuming the measure passes during the current legislative session, the law could go into effect as soon as fiscal 2027, the report said.

Before now, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has regulated crypto under the Payment Services Act, due to the digital currency’s potential use as a payment method.

But with crypto becoming an investment instrument, the FSA wants to move regulation to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the report said.

The new law will also create tougher penalties for crypto violations, the report said. For example, operating without registration could lead to a 10-year prison term, compared to the current three-year sentence. Fines would also be increased, from 3 million yen to up to 10 million yen (around $62,000).

In other digital asset news, PYMNTS wrote last week about new Federal Reserve research that shows the large majority of stablecoins aren’t flowing through the real economy. Instead, they are either sitting idle or circulating within cryptocurrency markets rather than being used to pay for goods and services.

A briefing released last week by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City explores how stablecoins are actually used, based on data across industry platforms. 

“The takeaway is blunt: payments barely register, while most activity remains inactive or tied up in financial infrastructure rather than commerce,” PYMNTS wrote.

These findings reinforce a pattern that PYMNTS Intelligence has chartered across corporate finance functions. In the March 2026 data book, “Stablecoins Gain Ground: Why CFOs See More Promise There Than in Crypto,” interest among executives in stablecoins continued to surpass actual deployment.

According to that report, more than 40% of middle-market firms say they have at least discussed or tested stablecoins, yet only 13% report actual use. The gulf between awareness and implementation highlights an ongoing hesitation among finance leaders. Stablecoins are seen as potentially useful, but not yet integrated into everyday financial operations.

“The data also helps explain the idle balances identified in the Fed’s research. Firms are not rejecting stablecoins,” PYMNTS wrote. “Instead, they are holding back until the operational case becomes clearer, particularly as they weigh how these tools would integrate with treasury systems and payment workflows.”