New in-school student bank opens in Tioga
November 16, 2021
Tioga, ND, November 16, 2021 – The Bank of Tioga and Tioga School District are excited to announce the student-run Pirate Branch at Central Elementary opened on Friday, October 29.
The student bank is designed to introduce the economic concept of saving money at an early age and reinforce this idea throughout the elementary, middle, and high school curriculum. In addition, the bank demonstrates that saving money should be part of a student’s financial plan for his or her future, as well as increases parental involvement in children’s lives through banking activity.
All students K-6 will have an opportunity to bank every Friday morning, and six sixth graders who serve as student bankers will rotate each week – Weston Lalim, Jaren Raan, Graham Schaffer, Piper Moberg, Jeremiah Walsh, and Lane Lenzen. The Bank of Tioga employees will volunteer to assist with the student-run branch.
Graham Schaffer, a student banker shared, “I am excited to help other kids learn to save.”
This is the second in-school branch for The Bank of Tioga, as the DC Branch with Divide County Community School District opened in 2018.
“The purpose of this bank is to instill the habit of saving in our young people. We want to see lifelong savers,” said Joy Sparks, The Bank of Tioga financial literacy coordinator. “I am excited to be able to bring this to Central Elementary and allow students to observe the banking process. Saving money is a great skill to learn early. We should all be setting savings goals and working to achieve them.”
This student-branch structure and financial literacy curriculum provided by The Bank of Tioga, is made possible by the bank’s mission to reinvest 10 percent of its pre-tax income back into the community.
The goal of the program is to provide students, K-12, with knowledge to make sound financial decisions. Additionally, the program collaborates with school districts to promote financial literacy and this expanded in northwest North Dakota with the 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: At The Bank of Tioga, we IGNITE PROSPERITY® by helping our clients do more with their money. Whether it’s saving a little extra cash each month or accomplishing a long-term strategy, our goal is to help you transform your financial life. 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, The Bank of Tioga is committed to supporting local organizations and reinvests a portion of its net income back to the community. Branch locations include Tioga and Crosby, North Dakota. For more information visit thebankoftioga.com.