Independent Banker - June 2021 - 71

Slattery, Sunflower Bank's regional
retail manager. " It has been very
successful and has allowed us to really
contribute and support their cause
and help with funding, because we
know budgets are very tight all around
for school districts. "
For the first 18 years of the
program, cardholders could earn
donations for their school during only
a certain number of months out of the
year. But over the past two years, this
part of the program has become yearround,
allowing for more participation
and fundraising.
" At the end of the day, part of this
program is an encouragement to
use your debit card, " says Cheryl
Campbell, market president for
Salina, Kan. " You want people to
always feel good about when they're
using it. Not just the two months
a year. "
Schools can use the funding
however they see fit, whether it's
for supplies, emergency kits or
parties. In 2020, the added support
was particularly important. With
some teachers using their own
money to buy school supplies, the
donations they receive can make a
huge difference.
Starting financial conversations
The ABC Program is not just for
schools, but for kids, too. The biggest
financial draw for students is a chance
to be rewarded for good grades. Twice
a year, students can bring their report
cards into a Sunflower Bank branch
where they're entered into a drawing
to win $10 for each " A, " up to $100.
" I'm going to tell you that $100 to
children is a huge amount of money, "
Slattery says. " They would think
they're winning a grand prize in the
lottery that they are stoked about. "
To build excitement with the
students around report card drawings,
Sunflower Bank organizes school
" We know what's going on with our
schools, we know what's going on
with our city and our county, and we
are engaged in supporting them and
partnering with all of them. "
-JESSICA SLATTERY, SUNFLOWER BANK
assemblies, half-time sports shows
and opportunities to meet its mascot,
Bubba the Bear. These events are fun
for kids, but they also lead to early
financial literacy conversations with
students of all ages.
" I think [the program] helped spark
some of the conversations we used to
have when doing the school assembly
[events], especially at the elementary
[school level], " Slattery says. These
conversations have included topics
like, " What are you going to do with
your [drawing prize]? " and " How are
you going to save? "
Getting the community engaged
At the start of each year and on an
ongoing basis, Sunflower Bank speaks
with school officials to make sure they
understand how the program works
and how they can engage students.
Getting the parents involved is also
incredibly important, Campbell says.
" The biggest thing of this
campaign-and I think you would
hear that from parents today-is that
it wasn't just Sunflower Bank that
[powered the program], " she says.
" It was them as parents doing their
part-swiping their card and helping
in that way that parents can actually
help their students as well. "
The program is particularly
successful once parents are engaged
and asking questions about what
the funds can do for their schools.
" I think that the excitement really
starts building, " Slattery says. " Once
you get that feedback going, it's just
like wildfire. "
Sunflower Bank has run many
community outreach programs over
the years, but the ABC Program is one
of its most successful. It also closely
aligns with its mission.
" It's just a responsibility for all
business members in the community
that we're engaged with our
community, " Slattery says. " We know
what's going on with our schools, we
know what's going on with our city
and our county, and we are engaged in
supporting them and partnering with
all of them. "
Tiffany Lukk is associate editor of
Independent Banker.
independentbanker.org Q 71
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - June 2021

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