Windsor Federal Bank is proud to announce the start of the 13th year of our High School Banking Program! This program has been a cornerstone in providing financial wellness and career readiness skills to local high school students and their families, especially in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. Since its inception in 2011, the program has made a significant impact on the lives of many young individuals. Nearly 90 students have completed the program, even with two years of being non-operational due to the pandemic.
To make this program possible, we’ve partnered with two local high schools, Windsor and Bloomfield High. At these schools, teachers Gloria Wellington (WHS), Hyacinth DeFoe (WHS), and Sophia Rehmer (BHS) recommend students they feel would be a good fit for the program. After going through a formal interview process, students are selected and become Student Tellers within our in-school Windsor Federal Bank branches. Our own Community Bankers are heavily involved in this program, serving as supervisors in the branches, and/or serving as mentors. These people truly make the program a success each year: Leon Stephenson, Kellie Maliszewski, Melissa Lorenson, Ahilda Rodriguez, Haley Boyer, Marjorie Lowe, Robin Myers, Angie Rodriguez Del Moral, and Kim Williams.
Students working at the high school branch offices are taught how to do everything that a teller does at a traditional branch office. They are able to process withdrawals, transfers, and deposits, and learn how to open accounts. Students take an active role in the Bank, having suggested account opening campaigns and participating in Bank-supported community events.
The outcome of this success is students who now have an opportunity to learn how to manage money and increase their financial wellness. They are provided with hands-on implementation of classroom concepts, opportunities for working independently, and the comfort in knowing they are prepared to successfully enter the workforce with universally transferable skills. The program not only prepares students for personal financial management but also opens doors to career opportunities within the banking sector.
By equipping students with essential financial knowledge and practical job skills, Windsor Federal Bank is fostering a new generation of financially savvy and career-ready individuals.
