Students from the Life Academy spent the afternoon at Wachovia Bank on Interstate 10 learning about banking from the inside out. Wachovia Bank became a sponsor of the Life Academy and provided students with a computer station that could be used for online banking and accounting programs to manage the funds from student run businesses.

The Vice President of the Bunker Hill branch brought her expertise to the students each Tuesday for six weeks. She taught the students about personal finance, banking, budgeting, and the aspects of running a bank. Students had the opportunity to create personal goals for saving and discuss the realities of living with a budget. Students were provided with templates for developing budgets while they are living with their families, and plans for independent living.

At the completion of the classroom activities, students had the opportunity to visit the bank for a tour that quickly became more! Students learned about the multiple vaults that are located throughout the bank and the security systems that are used to maintain a safe environment for the workers and the customers. They also found out about the importance of teamwork in the bank. All of the employees must be responsible as individuals for the money that they work with, yet they must work as a team to ensure that everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Workers in the bank must have a high level of trust as they are dependant on each other for codes and other information which will keep the money secure.

In addition to the interest in the vaults, the other highlight of the trip was the drive up teller window. Students greeted customers at the drive up window, sent out the ‘tubes’, and collected the requests for deposit, cash, etc. The Window Teller helped the students learn each task and assisted them as necessary. They also got an opportunity to look in the vault, which had lots of special coins and bills that had been collected through the window. One student exchanged his twenty-dollar bill for ten $2.00 bills for his own collection. After socializing with the customers, students were treated to a great lunch in the conference room, where they had time to reflect on their experiences in banking.

Special thanks to Nancy Middleton and Shawn Holmes of Wachovia Bank for making this event possible and for the donation of the Banking Station now located at The Monarch School Life Academy.