As a feature on Virginia Bankers Association Bank Day on Tuesday, March 20, high school seniors are invited to spend a day in banks across the commonwealth, including Montgomery County. They will shadow a banker in his or her daily duties.
Local students wishing to attend a Bank Day in Montgomery County can do so by emailing Monica McDearmon at mmcdearmon@vabankers.org.
The purpose of this experience is for the students to learn about banking and financial services and the vital role banks play in their communities.
From their experience, the students will be required to write an essay on their day. Seven scholarships (six regional scholarships of $2,500 and one statewide scholarship of $5,000) will be awarded on the basis of the essays. Six honorable mention scholarships of $1,000 each will also be awarded this year, one in each of the six regions for the program. Thus, $26,000 total in scholarships will be distributed by the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation through Bank Day.
The students will participate in various activities throughout their day. Activities might include visiting various bank departments and learning about the loan process, the importance of good credit, the profile of a qualified borrower, appropriate etiquette during a job interview, how banks are involved in the community, the Federal Reserve System and payments..
More than 350 students are expected to participate this year across Virginia.
The Virginia Bankers Association formed the VBA Education Foundation in 2007 with funding from the majority of VBA member banks for the Walter Ayers Fund for Financial Education. This fund was formed in honor of Past VBA President & CEO Walter Ayers’ contributions to Virginia’s banking industry and in recognition of his longterm commitment to economic education and financial literacy.
The foundation’s mission is to improve personal financial literacy and economic education in the commonwealth. The foundation recognizes the importance of economic education and financial literacy in Virginia and supports the banking industry as a key participant in these areas.
