At the ribbon cutting of the Exeter-Milligan branch of
the Generations Bank are front from the left, Jennifer Marr, Ashley Kassik,
Kelly Lammers, Alan Emshoff (with scissors), Dr. Jennifer Davidson, Paul
Sheffield, Laura Kroll, Amy Emshoff, Makaela Holz, Kay Due and the
Exeter-Milligan elementary classes in the background.
Exeter-Milligan elementary students witnessed the opening of
a new branch of Generations Bank tailored to their needs at the school on
Friday afternoon, March 17.
The branch opened under the guidance of Generations Bank
Special Projects Manager Jennifer Marr. Her motivation in guiding this project
was, “The students of today are our customers of
tomorrow. We believe in this program and want to do our part to prepare our
future customers by providing them with the tools they need to confidently
manage their money, becoming next generation savers!”
Also attending the opening
were Generations Bank President Alan Emshoff who opened the ceremony and later
cut the ribbon. He introduced Dr. Jennifer Davidson, President of
the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.
Davidson, who is also an
Economics professor at the University of Nebraska, announced to the assembled
students that their branch was the 14th elementary savings programs
opened this year but she predicted “this will be one of the strongest programs
in Nebraska.”
After lauding the solid
relationship between Generations Bank and the Exeter-Milligan district Davidson
explained to the students the impact that saving can have on their future and
how she has seen the elementary program in schools like Thayer Central make a
difference 15 years later.
Also addressing the students
was Kelly Lammers, Director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and
Finance, who helped the students understand how money is kept safe in
Nebraska banks.
He also touted the strength
of Nebraska banks and noted the investment Nebraska banks have made in small
business and agriculture loans in their communities which is 10 billion dollars
more than most other states.
Lammers encouraged the
students to think of their savings accounts like a winter coat, “It’s there
when you need it.”
After the ribbon cutting was
held, the student tellers received some last minute tips from Marr and
Generations Bank Assistant Cashier Ashley Kassik before they started taking
deposits from the elementary customers. According to Marr, Kassik also
had an integral part in bringing the project to fruition.
Student tellers were fifth
graders who applied for the job and were interviewed by bank staff before
chosen to man the teller stations. Kindergarten through fifth graders
were welcome to deposit funds which remain in their account until the end of
fifth grade.
The funds are held in a
special account with the bank. Instead of regular interest the students
earn prizes for each time they deposit. And it’s not just a bonus for the
students, according to Exeter-Milligan Principal Laura Kroll, it helps meet an
education requirement, “The Financial Literacy Act which the state
recently passed requires financial literacy instruction in grades K-8. It will
also be a graduation requirement for this year's juniors. When this program was
brought to our attention by Alan Emshoff we knew that it would fit in well with
the new state requirements. Being able to partner with a local business
like Generations Bank was just the cherry on top. We are excited to have
students start depositing this week!”
Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield added, “We
look at this as a win-win situation. This is an opportunity for our
students to learn about saving for the future working hand-in-hand with a local
entity and also helping meet the new financial literacy standards.”
Generations Bank President Alan Emshoff explained that the
banks motivation, “was to create our next generation of savers in the
community. The staff at Generations Bank felt that the in school branch
at E-M elementary would be a positive way for our bank to promote the habit of
savings at a young age. By developing a habit of saving, saving with a
goal in mind and getting some real life experience of having an account of
their own, students in the program have a greater chance of becoming
financially responsible citizens when they are grown and out on their own.”
The branch will be open on Friday afternoons for deposits
from the elementary students.
Depositors at the new Generations Bank branch at
Exeter-Milligan line up for their turn to start saving. Far right, Mrs. Sara Pella (substitute teacher) looks on
as one of the Next Generation depositors opens a savings account and makes a
deposit with the assistance of tellers Liam Capek (far left), Lynn Jurgensen
(middle) and Crosby Oldehoeft (right).
Kelly Lammers
Alan Emshoff
Dr. Jennifer Davidson
Exeter-Milligan fifth graders applied and interviewed to
be bank tellers at the new branch of Generations Bank at Exeter-Milligan
elementary school. Tellers pictured in the front row from the left are
Lynn Jurgensen, Liam Capek, and Gracelyn Becker. Back row from the left
are Archer Kanode, and Crosby Oldehoeft.
