First Student-Run Bank Elementary Branch Opens in Divide County

January 25, 2018

The Bank of Tioga and Divide County Community School District are excited to announce the first student-run bank branch in the area has opened, where students are exposed to financial concepts and hands-on training.

A ribbon cutting was held on Jan. 24th, 2018 at 8:45 a.m. at the branch, located at the Divide County Elementary School, 101 2nd St. NE, Crosby, ND 58730.

The student bank is designed to introduce the economic concept of saving money at an early age and reinforces this idea throughout the elementary, middle and high school curriculum. In addition, the student bank demonstrates that saving money should be part of a student’s financial plan for his or her future, and strives to increases parental involvement in the child’s life through banking activity.

“The Bank of Tioga DC Branch is a wonderful opportunity for students to begin the lifelong habit of saving. Studies show that our saving and spending behaviors are set at a very young age. In school banks teach students to save for their short-term and long-term goals and reinforce that behavior by making saving fun with prizes and incentives.” Said Joy Sparks. “The DC Branch will also expose students to banking professionals as mentors, help them learn the banking process, and provide valuable life skills. We will have hired top notch student tellers to serve the clients at DC Branch.”

The students will have an opportunity to bank every other Wednesday, and four sixth grade bankers, called Client Service Representatives (CSRs), will rotate each week – Trenton Combs, Desta Thomas, Billi Fortier and Morgan Rose. The Bank of Tioga employees will volunteer to assist with the student-run branch in addition to parent volunteers.

“I am so excited to be able to offer this real-life experience for students of Divide County Elementary, to encourage the habit of saving,” said student teacher, Mrs. Tanya Brown.

This student-branch structure and financial literacy curriculum provided by TS Institute, is made possible by The Bank of Tioga’s mission to reinvest 10 percent of its pre-tax income back into the community.

TS Institute, was created in 2009 to collaborate with school districts and promote financial literacy. The goal of the program is to provide students, K-12, with knowledge to make sound financial decisions. TS Institute expanded to North Dakota, hiring of Joy Sparks in the fall of 2016.

To learn more or to help partner in financial wellness efforts, visit thebankoftioga.com.

About The Bank of Tioga:
The Bank of Tioga is a community bank that values citizenship, exceptional client service, serving as a business leader in its community. Committed to supporting local organizations, the bank reinvests a portion of their net income back to the community. The Bank of Tioga was chartered in 1951 and was acquired by TS Contrarian Bancshares Inc., an affiliate of TS Banking Group in 2014, with $350 million in assets. Branch locations Tioga and Crosby, North Dakota. For more information visit thebankoftioga.com.