When is the right time to learn about banking? Glacier Bank in Kalispell, Montana, believes financial literacy can start at any age. That’s why in April, the $28 billion-asset community bank’s Ronan, Montana, branch participated in a career fair for elementary students at Salish Kootenai College.
Glacier Bank has participated in the annual career fair, which is organized by the Ronan School District, for the past two years. This year, Glacier Bank operations supervisor Brook Tobol and assistant operations supervisor Ashley Fryslie attended the event.
The two women distributed piggy banks and talked to 400 third and fourth graders about the world of banking. Students had the opportunity to ask questions, which included, “How much money is at the bank?” and “Has the bank ever been robbed?” Tobol and Fryslie were ready to answer each one.
“Glacier Bank is completely committed to serving our local communities,” said Tobol. “The best way we can do that is to get out there and invest in the future of young people.”
Banking can be an intimidating subject for children, so Glacier Bank strives to make conversations about banking and financial literacy easy to understand.
“We’re hoping to instill a good financial foundation that will serve kids throughout their lives, and then possibly introduce them to a career in banking,” said Fryslie.
Glacier Bank also strengthens its connections with the community through its financial literacy program, Teach Kids to Save. This program brings bank members into K–12 classrooms across the Mission Valley region, where they provide students with a comprehensive introduction to financial concepts and banking fundamentals.
“I don’t remember learning a lot about banking in school,” said Fryslie. “It’s really neat to get in [the classroom] and have these kids blow me away with how much they do actually know.”
