There is a new bank in the middle of the La Porte High School main lobby. What? A bank inside a school? This must be a typo! Nope, you’re reading correctly, folks. The La Porte Savings Bank has just opened their newest branch inside La Porte High School. On Monday March 4, 2013 there was an opening ceremony for the new addition to the high school. This Slicer Branch, a clever and appropriate name, is quite special and beneficial to the community as well as the school. It was a combined effort between the La Porte Community School Corporation and the La Porte Savings Bank with the aim to help students develop financial responsibility.
The La Porte Savings Bank is a full-service bank that opened in 1871. There are currently eight full service banks that serve the La Porte and Porter County areas of Northwest Indiana. They are a community-based bank that deals in different types of loans, bonds, securities and much more.
“We’re very pleased and proud to be part of this business education partnership,” Michele Thompson, President of La Porte Savings Bank, said before the ribbon cutting. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the high school students to learn financial management and life skills early on. And we’re just happy to be part of it."
Dr. Glade Montgomery, the Superintendent for La Porte Community Schools was in attendance that morning and he said a few words before the ribbon was cut as well.
“One of the things that I found out very quickly in my short time here in La Porte so far is the amount of community support that the schools receive at all levels. So when we started thinking about this business venture with La Porte Savings Bank, it just seemed to be natural fit,” Dr. Montgomery said. “I can’t say enough about La Porte Savings Bank and all that they’ve done. I’d like to echo Michele’s thought in that we try to provide real world experiences for our students in every way that we can. We want to open this up to all of our kids to learn financial management skills before they go out to college or into the real world. It’s going to be a great opportunity and a great partnership.”
The plan for the Slicer Branch is to have a staff of mostly students and an adult manager to supervise day-to-day activities. The students will earn credits and skills to be used toward a financial based job. It will be open only during the school year and only the students, faculty and staff of LPHS will have access to the Slicer Branch.
This is not the first time that a bank has been opened within a school. This program has been implemented throughout the country in many schools for many years and has proven to be quite successful.
“This is our first venture into the high school setting. And we’re very excited about it,” Liz Kaminski, the Marketing Manager for La Porte Savings Bank, said. “The state has asked that the school corporations do more to develop financial literacy. This is our first step into that venture. We’re giving the students an opportunity to learn about finances without penalty. This will help them, while they’re still in high school to get a jump start on that.”
The students, faculty and staff from LPHS as well as the La Porte Savings Bank and other members of the community gathered around Thompson and Dr. Montgomery held a long red ribbon in front of the new branch. Using a mammoth pair of scissors LPHS Principal Gregory Handel proudly cut the ribbon. The Slicers Branch was officially open for business. Afterward, people left their signatures on the ribbon as it was to be saved as a memento of this positive connection that was made between the LPCSC and the La Porte Savings Bank.
“We’re hoping to not only have student tellers throughout the year but to also to incorporate business management and other education throughout the classrooms like budgeting or how to pay your bills on time so it doesn’t affect your credit in the long term. But really the main benefit for students to learn early on is establishing an account and learning how to manage it before going off to school,” Thompson added.
A raffle was also present at the ceremony that students were able to take part in. Throughout the remainder of the week, students at LPHS will get to participate in other fun activities and giveaways that will be provided by the La Porte Savings Bank.
To find out more about the La Porte Savings Bank, visit their website!
Click here to find out more about the La Porte Community School Corporation, and click here to go to the La Porte High School’s website.
View more photos from the event through this link!