Independent Banker - April 2023 - 55

average, have increased their scores on assessment tests by
an average of 84% in that time, according to Gale.
Once they complete the Everfi digital classes, high school
students become more interested in how the financial
world works, the community bank found. " We explain that
everything starts with credit scores, " says Gale. " We also
share that, unlike our court system where you are innocent
until proven guilty, in the financial world, you are guilty
until you can prove yourself innocent. "
The program also explains that before students get
married, they need to make sure that their future spouses
have solid credit scores, or else they could be responsible
for their debts, especially in a community property state
like Arizona. " This fact really seems to open their eyes to
how they can get themselves into financial hardship by not
understanding how the financial world works, " Gale says.
Melissa Block of
Choice Bank says the
bank's Wishing Well
program is intended
to help community
members in need.
Financial literacy for college students, civic groups
and churches
" Here, we focus our presentations on credit scores and
the needs of each individual civic group, " Gale says. " Our
overall goal is to help create generational change through
financial literacy education. Simply put, we want to make
sure that the communities we serve have the tools to be
financially successful. "
For students majoring in business at local community
colleges, the focus is on FICO/credit score seminars. For
civic groups and churches, one focus is on concerns they
may have about fraud and identity theft, as well as credit
scores. " The bank individualizes the topic depending on the
needs of the organization, " says Gale.
It's not just senior management who get involved in 1st
Bank Yuma's financial literacy program; people at all levels
have an opportunity to participate.
" The days that I have a bank field trip or visit a
classroom are the days that that I enjoy the most, " says
Jeff Byrd, the bank's community relations officer. " I
believe that the key for the students to retain information
is to have fun. I know I reached the students when, after
a presentation or bank field trip, the questions just keep
coming. There is nothing better than knowing you made
a difference in a student's life and are working on creating
generational change. "
Byrd says that this is evident with the community bank's
branches along the international border in Yuma and
Nogales, Ariz. " It is exciting to see the students' desire to
learn and expand their financial knowledge base, " he says.
" You can tell from their questions that they want the best
life possible, and I am honored along with the bank to play
a small part in their financial evolution. "
What does the future hold for the Kinder to College
Financial Initiative? " The bank is constantly exploring
areas to improve our financial outreach, " says Mark
Rodriguez, one of the bank's board members. " For
Photo by Caitlin Abrams
example, after our last audit, the auditor suggested that
we explore the FDIC's Money Smart program for K-8
students. This suggestion will be incorporated as another
educational tool implemented into our program outreach
for the next school semester. "
Choice Bank's wishing well
In 2018, a group of leaders and influencers from
$3.4 billion-asset Choice Bank in Fargo, N.D., went on a
strategy and team-building retreat.
" During the retreat, the employees broke into groups
and were challenged to brainstorm new initiatives that
exemplified #PeopleFirst and our core value to 'better the
places we live,' with the intent that one would be selected
to bring to life, " says Melissa Block, senior vice president,
marketing and communications. " The idea chosen was the
Wishing Well program. "
With this program, community members can submit
wishes to Choice Bank for anything big or small. Past
independentbanker.org // 55
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Independent Banker - April 2023

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