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ABA Education Foundation's 6th annual Get Smart About Credit Day! 

On October 16, 2008, and throughout the fall, bankers across the country presented students with valuable lessons on the responsible use of credit. Our thanks to everyone who participated in this financial education program!

Please e-mail photos of bankers in action and a two sentence caption about your event to edufoun@aba.com. Please include the full bank name, location, school name, grade level of students pictured and any other details to identity the photo.  Please make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page to see all of the great photos from bankers across the country!

Visit our Get Smart About Credit Participation Honor Roll to see the banks that participated this year.   

National City Bank - Detroit, Mich. U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral joined Cynthia Smith and Minnie LaGrande of National City Bank for a special Get Smart About Credit lesson at John Pershing High School in Detroit. Pershing's Vice Principal Nadolyn Hoskins welcomed the group, which included the ABAEF's Director Laura Fisher.

Wells Fargo - Moreno Valley, Calif. Rep. Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) and Anita Beard, store manager, Wells Fargo, spoke with students of the Riverside Community College Moreno Valley campus on Tuesday October 14. Bono Mack shared legislative updates and Beard Presented a credit lesson from Well Fargo's Hands On Banking program.

Worthington National Bank - Arlington, Texas District Community Affairs Officer David Lewis of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Worthington National Bank Senior Vice President Bobby Clark share an intensive credit lesson with business majors at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Centier - Crown Point, Ind. Merrillville High School senior economics students learned the dos and don'ts of credit from Alise DeLeon, Treasury Official and Lisa Crabtree, operations supervisor at Centier Bank. Centier Bank is a longtime participant in the Get Smart About Credit program.

Foster Bank - Chicago, Ill. Paul Ginger from the Community Affairs division of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Jake Silker of Foster Bank presented a credit lesson at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.

Sun West Bank - Las Vegas, Nev. Don Peetz and Jim Cunningham of Sun West Bank presented credit lessons to students at the GNJ Family Life Center. They were joined by Cliff Northup of the U.S. Mint. Sylvia Spencer of GNJ stated "our youth received valuable information that they may not otherwise receive in their personal lives or school, which will help them to make wiser decisions regarding personal finances and credit."

United Bank - Atmore, Ala. Alabama State Treasurer Kay Ivey partnered with employees from United Bank and spoke with students at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Ala. Treasurer Ivey is pictured with one of the students.

BancorpSouth - Huntsville Three employees of the BancorpSouth branch in Huntsville visited three classes at Lee High School and two classes at Johnson High School. In total, about 65 students learned the ABCs of credit card management from the bankers.

SouthPoint Bank - Birmingham During the month of October, Melissa Harris and Mitzi Johnson of SouthPoint Bank in Birmingham joined bankers nationwide by participating in Get Smart About Credit Day. They presented lessons to the Clay-Chalkville High School finance classes.

BancorpSouth - Osceola BancorpSouth employees Jan Stiles and Justin Cissell spoke to students about credit at Osceola Middle School.

BancorpSouth - Jonesboro Four BancorpSouth Jonesboro employees presented Get Smart About Credit lessons to more than 150 students at Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro. The Identity Theft and Budgeting lessons were particularly well received.

Valley Bank & Trust - Brighton For the six year, financial professionals from Valley Bank & Trust participated in Get Smart About Credit Day. This year students considered the stability of a financial institution when determining where to take their business.

The Citizens National Bank - Putnam The Citizens National Bank conducts several financial workshops for Woodstock Academy juniors and seniors each year. The workshops consist of two 70 minute sessions, led by Shannon Sabourin, electronic banking specialist, and David Conrad, president and CEO.

Colonial Bank - Fruitland Park Colonial Bank's Amy Cardinale Fruitland Park Assistant Branch Sales Manager & Bank Officer, presented credit lessons to Mrs. Freeman's class at Lake Weir School.

Oconee State Bank - Watkinsville This fall, Oconee State Bankers spoke to middle school students in Oconee County about basic financial skills, including credit and the loan process. They end by playing the game of Life to apply the skills they learned. While playing, bankers lead discussions on the importance of saving, building a budget and using credit wisely.

First Farmers Bank & Trust - Greentown First Farmers Bank & Trust employees spoke to 100 freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors at Eastern High school about the wise use of credit. They also reached thirty-six seventh and eighth graders in their community.

Standard Bank & Trust Co. - Merrillville Vernon J. Richards, assistant vice president, Standard Bank & Trust Co., shared a helpful credit lesson with the Hammond Baptist High School 2009 Senior Class.

Central State Bank - Muscatine Five lenders from Central State Bank presented lessons to about 150 Muscatine High School students. Mike Batenhorst, AVP and Consumer Lending Manager taught one of the five classes and was joined by a sign-language interpreter for the benefit of hearing-impaired students.

First Security Bank & Trust - Charles City First Security assistant vice presidents of consumer and real estate lending Kim Schlader and Emily Dohlman visited Charles City High School Business classes where they talked about the value of proper credit management. The duo spoke to more than 75 sophomores, juniors and seniors about how their credit rating can impact them later in life.

Wells Fargo - Des Moines Scott Johnson, regional bank president for Iowa and Illinois, and fellow Des Moines Wells Fargo team members visited three dozen classrooms and reached 900 students as part of Get Smart About Credit Day activities. Johnson is pictured here doing a live, a.m. drive-time interview promoting GSAC Day on a local radio station.

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust - Rockland Greg Jones, customer service manager at the Rockland Branch of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, based in Bar Harbor, taught more than 60 juniors at Georges Valley High School in Rockland how to use credit wisely.

Provident Bank - Baltimore Christopher Rahl and Nick Harne and three others from Provident Bank visited Catonsville High School and taught valuable credit lessons to 125 students in five classes.

Eagle Bank - Everett Eagle Bank has a full service branch at Everett High School, run by Paulette MacKenize, Financial Education Coordinator. MacKenzie teaches three financial literacy classes, and focused on credit awareness on Oct. 16. Paula Miele, Eagle Bank's Loan Production Specialist, also visited the classroom to discuss the importance of building good credit at a young age.

BankPlus - Jackson BankPlus employee Julie Harmon discussed using credit wisely with Jim Hill High School students in Jackson. BankPlus representatives taught Get Smart About Credit sessions to more than 800 juniors and seniors at the school.

Bank Plus - Pearl Lisa Tanner and Brent Walker of BankPlus in Rankin County led a Get Smart About Credit session for students at Pearl High School. They discussed finding the best deal when shopping for a credit card and how to use credit wisely.

BankPlus - Olive Branch Jennifer Pendergrast of BankPlus visited with students at Lewisburg High School in Olive Branch. BankPlus employees taught credit sessions in area high schools across DeSoto County, reaching approximately 300 students.

Guaranty Bank & Trust Company - Batesville Judy Austin and Rebecca Reed visited South Panola High School in Batesville during their Career Day and discussed credit and careers in the banking industry with 500 students. They handed out information on checking and savings accounts and identity theft.

Montgomery Bank - Chaffee Montgomery Bank employees presented the Get Smart About Credit to fifteen classrooms, reaching more than 400 students. In the photo, Denise Haislip is shown teaching at Chaffee High School.

Paris National Bank - Paris Aaron Wyant, vice president, made presentations to the seventh and twelfth graders at Paris R-II schools. The two presentations made to about sixty students discussed credit, identity theft and the current state of economic affairs. Aaron has taught local children to "get smart about credit" for the past 6 years.

Bank Star of the BootHeel - Steele Kevin Lawrence of Bank Star is pictured with the Cooter High School Finance class on Get Smart About Credit Day. The bank worked with the Cooter, Mo. high school's personal finance class this semester, and will do so again next semester. The class has about twenty students each semester.

Bank of Nevada - Las Vegas Seven Bank of Nevada employees participated in Get Smart About Credit Day. They reached nearly 238 students at Valley High School in Las Vegas and Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite with a lesson on the importance of using credit wisely. Todd Skadberg is pictured with students at Valley High School.

Canandaigua National Bank - Canandaigua Canandaigua National Bank's Amy Force is pictured teaching a credit lesson at Honeoye Central Schools. Thirteen CNB employees reached more than 600 students within Monroe & Ontario Counties.

NewBridge Bank - Greensboro Lola Fry and Karen Tilley of NewBridge Bank presented the Get Smart About Credit curriculum to students at South Stokes High School in Walnut Cove.

Killbuck Savings Bank Co. - Killbuck Killbuck Savings Bank Co. representatives visited five different high schools in their lending area and spoke about the dos and don'ts of credit with about 150 students in the month of October.

North Side Bank and Trust - Cincinnati North Side Bank and Trust Manager Marty Schultes poses with Taylor High School students proudly displaying their Get Smart About Credit diplomas.

Legacy Bank - Oklahoma City Legacy Bank employees led twenty-four presentations about credit and reached more than 430 students at nine high schools. In the photo, Legacy Bank employee Michael Chaloner speaks with Hinton High School students.

First Bank and Trust Company - Perry First Bank and Trust Company vice presidents Marvin Dement and Lori Pierce met with Perry High School seniors and taught them the importance of good credit habits. They covered how to select a credit card, read a credit report, and build a positive payment history.

Pacific Continental Bank - Eugene/Portland Fifteen Pacific Continental Bank employees taught nine lessons about credit in the Portland and Eugene areas. Pictured is Robert Harding teaching students at one of the seven high schools that participated. In all, 163 students learned the importance of understanding credit and credit products.

Univest National Bank and Trust Co. - Souderton Six Univest National Bank and Trust Co. representatives taught credit lessons to more than 250 high school students in Bucks County. Pictured is Denise Yannarell, vice president, Municipal Banking, who taught one of the seven classes at Central Bucks South High School.

The Washington Trust Company - Westerly Keith Lavimodiere, assistant vice president and branch manager of Washington Trust's Reservoir Avenue branch, teaches students at Cranston East High School the importance of establishing and maintaining good credit.

First Federal - Charleston First Federal visited six schools for Get Smart about Credit and reached about 250 students. In the picture Debbie Mullins, Youth Programs Coordinator, is teaching a lesson at Ft. Dorchester High School in Summerville. Vicky Bartleson, loan service, also taught a lesson at James Island Charter High School in Charleston.

BancorpSouth - Humboldt Senior Economics Students at Humboldt High School learned about credit dos and don'ts from BancorpSouth bankers from the Humboldt branch.

First National Bank of Oneida - Oneida First National Bank of Oneida participated in Get Smart About Credit Day by bringing lessons to more than seventy students at Scott High School. Cassie West, executive assistant and project manager, presented information and tips about building credit to three junior and senior economics classes.

TriStar Bank - Dickson TriStar Banker Gloria Mersman spoke about credit to the students at United Christian Academy in Dickson and to forty students at New Life Academy in Burns.

First National Bank - Pulaski Patrick Gilbert of First National Bank Pulaski led credit presentations to a high school class in the bank's market area for Get Smart About Credit.

BancorpSouth - Covington BancorpSouth bankers visited Ms. Sara Rhodehamel's class at Covington High School in Covington. They taught credit lessons to about 74 students.

American Express - West Valley City Ten American Express employees visited twelve eighth and ninth grade math classes at West Lake Junior High School in West Valley City. One of the presenters is pictured. In the background, several of the 360 students American Express employees reached work on the lessons.

Zions Bank - Salt Lake City Students at West High School learned the perks and pitfalls of credit from Rob Brough, executive vice president for Zions Bank.  Brough was one of nearly fifty Zions bankers who taught teens the importance of using credit wisely.

National Bank - Blacksburg More than 125 students from Pulaski County High School recently participated in a Get Smart About Credit financial education program provided by National Bank. Phillip Baker, Regional Manager of National Bank and Kim Blevins, Pulaski County Business School, are pictured with one of the classes.

Bank of Lancaster - Kilmarnock Lois Dawson, vice president and residential lending officer, is pictured speaking with a group of students from Lancaster High School. In total, Bank of Lancaster employees reached nearly 300 students.

Bank of Lancaster - Richmond County Cindy West, vice president and branch officer at the Warsaw Branch, is pictured speaking to students at Rappahannock High School in Richmond County.  She spoke to about 85 young people about the dos and don'ts of credit.

Union Bank & Trust - Fredericksburg Personal Bankers Leigh Snyder, Roberta Hayes and Sarah Frederick spoke about the dos and don’ts of credit with students from Massaponax High School. Union Bank & Trust employees gave presentations at four local high schools in the Fredericksburg area reaching nearly 400 students.

Community Bank - Staunton Darlene Hall, vice president and branch administrator, Community Bank, presented credit lessons to students of Grace Christian School in Staunton. Additional presentations occurred at Fort Defiance High School, Wilson Memorial High School and Stuarts Draft High School.

Pendleton Community Bank - Moorefield VP/Area Executive Sheldon Arbaugh visited the sophomores and juniors at Moorefield High School. He is pictured speaking to Teacher Joe Sherman's Civics Class on aspects of the banking industry, from balancing checkbooks to the current economy.

1st National Bank - Berlin 1st National Bank representative Tom Huber spoke about the wise use of credit with students in Berlin High School's work-based readiness class.

1st National Bank - Winneconne 1st National Bank representative Tim DeMaster visited the students in Omro High School's business class and discussed the dos and don'ts of credit.

If you have questions or comments, please contact edufoun@aba.com.