Greenbrier students learning lessons in finance through new Panther Bank
GREENBRIER — Greenbrier School District children are learning financial literacy in a refreshing way with the help of First Security Bank.
The Westside Panther Bank was recently opened in a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring school officials, Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce dignitaries and a group of fifth-grade school ambassadors to host the cookies and punch to guests.
Amie Regester, executive director of the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce, said, “Our business leaders are very interested in giving young people a solid foundation in the skills to enable them to be strong businessmen and women.”
The First Security Panther Bank, for third-fifth-grade students, is part of a program tied to the district’s Positive Behavior Incentive Program. Students can earn Panther Bucks from their teachers by going above and beyond in the classroom. Random acts of kindness, model examples of correct behavior or helping another student with homework are all ways students can earn money to take to their bank for deposit.
Gifted and talented students, directed by Carol Henthorne at Westside, operate the bank from 7:40 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those students all attended a training session to learn the banking systems and how to help students fill out all forms and input information into the computers.
Students will learn how to fill out deposit and withdrawal slips and how to keep track of receipts to maintain a paper trail. Every nine weeks they may withdraw money from their account to purchase prizes at the Panther Paw Store, or they may choose to save it to purchase something that is more expensive.
Stephanie Newland, assistant principal at Westside, said, “While this program is designed to inspire students to pay it forward and make positive choices, it will most certainly educate them on the banking system.”
