Community Spirit Bank has formally announced plans to implement a new student-led Bulldog Branch of Community Spirit Bank on the Belgreen High School campus.

“Community Spirit Bank places great emphasis on advancing the financial literacy of the students in our local schools, and we are excited about our new partnership with Belgreen High School,” said CSB vice president and senior marketing director Emily Mays.

The new student-led financial literacy branch will be located within the admissions office on the Belgreen campus, with plans to launch in January 2019. “There are some improvements to be completed, with all aspects of the student branch being paid from leasehold improvements the bank is making on the campus, which will benefit all stakeholders,” Mays said.

Mays said traditional banking products will be available to Belgreen students, teachers and staff only, as the Bulldog Branch will not be open to the general public. All grades, elementary through senior high, are welcome to use the on-campus Bulldog Branch for limited banking transactions.

Mays said potential student bankers underwent a formal interview process Dec. 17, and those selected will gain valuable work experience while learning about real life financial education.

Students selected for the inaugural group of Bulldog Tellers are Autumn Bragwell, Abigail Davis, Anna Kate Dempsey, Ansley Tate, Emma Dempsey, Ismael Lopez, Bailey Oliver, Scout Bragwell, Reagan Showers, Ella Wiginton and Alexis Keenum.

“In addition to the valuable money management skills they will learn, the student bankers will gain first-hand learning experience on how to work together, interact with customers and adapt to real-world situations,” Mays said. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring banking to these students and this campus. We believe it will serve generations of students and will be something the student body, faculty, administrators and the community can be proud of.”

Mays said CSB had a number of people to thank for their part in making the new branch a reality: Franklin County Career Technical Center director Scott Wiginton for his proactive initiative to help bring banking to Franklin County schools, as well as BHS principal Ann Scott, assistant principal Derek Ergle and guidance counselor Georgia Jeffreys “for their support in launching our newest in-school, student branch,” Mays said. “Finally, all of this would not be possible without the approval of the Franklin County school board and support of Superintendent Greg Hamilton.”

Community Spirit Bank has been making an active investment in financial education since 2013, Mays added, sponsoring 10 area schools with the award winning, EverFi Financial Literacy Digital Platform. Over the past five years, 3,386 students have been reached, completing 25,930 financial modules, which is around 18,940 hours of education, Mays explained. “The Bulldog Branch will further teach students real-life examples of what they are already learning with the EverFi program,” she added.

“Community Spirit Bank is a 110-year-old financial institution and has a long history of investing back to the communities in which we serve,” said CSB President/CEO Brad Bolton. “Our mission as a community financial institution is to develop and serve our communities, customers and employees with a caring attitude, offering stability, integrity and fairness.

“CSB is driven daily by our core values of integrity, innovation, knowledge, dedication and wow moments for our customers. On behalf of the officers, directors and employees of Community Spirit Bank, we are excited to add this location where students can lead and demonstrate the ‘community spirit’ of their Bulldog Branch, as we attempt to provide each day.”