MERNA – Nebraska State Bank has announced a partnership with Anselmo-Merna Public Schools to open the Coyotes Savings Bank, a branch of Nebraska State Bank for Anselmo-Merna students from kindergarten to 6th grade.
The Coyotes Savings Bank is being opened through an initiative by the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, according to a release received by KCNI/KBBN. The goal of the program is to provide elementary students the opportunities to not only learn about savings and how financial institutions operate but to also become savers themselves.
Coyote Savings Bank will be the second in-school bank opened by NSB; and its first official day of business will be November 15, 2023, with the branch open every other Wednesday morning thereafter. Students will be able to make deposits into their own savings accounts. On their very first deposit, no matter when that first deposit occurs, NSB will also deposit $5.00 in that student’s account.
NSB President and CEO, Stuart Fox, stated, “The concept of an in-school bank fits with NSB’s drive to help educate children on the importance of saving so they are better prepared to handle their finances in the future. The students at Anselmo-Merna will be able to open a savings account with their parent’s permission and start saving for a new toy, air pods, a car, or even college. I’m proud to say we are building a community of savvy savers.”
The in-school bank will be run by student tellers, under the supervision of NSB staff. The 9 student tellers are all 6th graders, who had to submit an employment application and go through an interview prior to being offered the job. The student tellers have received training, which included a tour of the Merna Branch of NSB.
An assembly will be held at Ansemo-Merna Public Schools on Tuesday, November 14, at 2:30 p.m.
