More than 475 Virginia High School Seniors shadowed bankers across the Commonwealth for a chance to win up to $7,500 in college scholarship money
On March 20, 2018, more than 475 Virginia high school seniors spent the day shadowing bankers at 35 banks across the Commonwealth as part of VBA Bank Day. This statewide program was sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) Education Foundation and the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders. The purpose of the day is to expose students to the banking industry and provide an opportunity for students to learn about banking, financial services and the vital role banks play in their communities.
The third Tuesday in March was declared Bank Day by the Virginia General Assembly in 1991 and has grown substantially since then. Following Bank Day, students will write an essay based on their time in the bank. Based on these essays, six regional $1,000 honorable mention scholarships, six regional $2,500 scholarships and one $5,000 statewide scholarship will be awarded to the winning students. The Virginia banking industry is pleased to provide these scholarships to help students as they move to their next level of education.
On Bank Day, students participated in various activities depending on which bank they visited. Activities included meeting with various bank departments to learn about various aspects of banking; the importance of good credit and the profile of a qualified borrower; appropriate etiquette during a job interview; how banks are involved in the community; the Federal Reserve System and the payments system evolution.
Bruce T. Whitehurst, President & CEO of the Virginia Bankers Association, stated “Bank Day is one of the best short-term, hands-on experiences for students. It gives them the opportunity to go inside the bank, learn about the many services that banks offer and start the networking that often leads to part-time and summer jobs, scholarships and a possible career path in the financial world.”
The following 35 banks hosted students on Bank Day 2018:
Bank of Botetourt
Bank of Clarke County
Bank of Southside Virginia
Benchmark Community Bank
Blue Ridge Bank
Burke & Herbert Bank
C&F Bank
Chesapeake Bank
Citizens Bank & Trust Company
EagleBank
Essex Bank
F&M Bank
First Bank & Trust Company
First Bank, Virginia
First National Bank
HomeTown Bank
Lee Bank & Trust Company
MainStreet Bank
New Peoples Bank
Oak View National Bank
Old Point National Bank
Skyline National Bank
Sonabank
The Bank of Fincastle
The Bank of Marion
The Farmers Bank of Appomattox
The Fauquier Bank
Touchstone Bank
TowneBank
Union Bank & Trust
United Bank
Village Bank
Virginia Commonwealth Bank
Virginia Community Bank
Wells Fargo
-Submitted by Chandler Owdom, Communications Director
