The photo above was taken of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the CCS Bank in School program. Standing in front from left are students Jim Sims, Kadin Vrbas, Ryley Vrbas, Noah Griffin, Clarissa Chaparro, Maddie Elliott, Kassidy Barrett, Sophie Fiedler, LaReina Colton and Lauren Prior. Back row from left are Adams Bank & Trust representatives: Landen Lawless, Ag Relationship Coordinator; Katie Flaig, Financial Services Representative; Kerri Anderson, Senior Retail Banker; Jake Burke, Ag Banker and Mandy Adams Hoover, CFO. (Johnson Publications photo)
Following the project theme of saving, a $4,000 large check from the Imperial Community Foundation Fund was presented to students serving as tellers for the day. Lori Pankonin, at left, explained investment earnings from the ICFF savings make the support possible. Another $2,000 benefited the project from an anonymous donor. (Johnson Publications photo)
Chase County Schools launch Bank in School program
Valentine’s Day served as the grand opening at CCS for a program called Bank in School developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The purpose of this program is to teach savings practices for K-8 students.
The day’s celebration included 35 students opening a savings account on the bank’s first day of operation.
There were several speakers who took part in the opening ceremony.
Those present were Mandy Adams Hoover, a 5th generation Adams Bank family member and CFO for Adams Bank & Trust; Jennifer Davidson, Nebraska Council on Economic Education President from Lincoln; Becky Odens, CCS elementary school principal; and Clint Johnson, Imperial Chamber President.
Lori Pankonin, an Imperial Community Foundation committee member, also spoke and presented a check towards the project for $4,000 from the Imperial Community Foundation Fund.
The program is set up to utilize junior high and high school students involved in FBLA to work as the tellers at the school branch, said Sandy O’Neil, CCS business teacher and FBLA advisor.
O’Neil said there are 14 FBLA student tellers that were all present to open accounts on the opening day. The remainder of the year, the student tellers will rotate on bank days.
The mobile Bank in School will be open every Wednesday morning at 7:45 so students can make deposits or open accounts. There will not be withdrawals allowed at the school site.
For students who weren’t able to do their banking before school, there will be time given at the beginning of the first class on Wednesdays to give them the chance to visit the “bank,” said O’Neil.
There will be four tellers available every Wednesday morning to help students with their accounts.
This schedule will remain in effect the rest of the school year, she said.
The program uses real money to allow students to receive rewards as they reach certain milestones with their savings account balance, she said.
A plan is inspired
O’Neil said she was first approached with the idea by Brenda Ledall of Mid-Plains Community College Imperial site and Elizabeth Haarberg. She said Ledall told her there was grant money available to use for this program.
O’Neil contacted Davidson in Lincoln, who provided her with videos and information about the program.
O’Neil then applied for and received a grant from the Nebraska Community Foundation which was matched by an additional grant from the Imperial Community Foundation.
The program first began in 2002. CCS is the 27th school to launch the Bank in School program in the state.