On the job training is great for students.
Most often the training is off campus but in Eclectic, the bank came to the school. Elmore County High School students can now learn the banking industry and never leave campus thanks to a branch of First Community Bank of Central Alabama. But students are not just watching, they are the tellers.
“This branch of First Community Bank will be ran and operated by students of Elmore County High School,” CEO Rana Futral said. “They will open this branch, run this branch and close this branch for services to customers and to other students.”
Walking through the front doors of the school, it looks like any other. A few steps into the hallway and the double glass doors opens up to a lab that is the Panther Branch.Â
Students, staff and even visitors can complete almost any banking transaction a normal branch can handle. Checks can be cashed. Deposits can be made. Online banking passwords can be reset. The branch can even provide the change for the concession and ticket stands at ballgames on campus.
The branch aids in breaking the ice of what can be thought of as a hard environment.
“When students graduate from high school, they'll be even more comfortable and will not be intimidated about coming into a bank asking questions,” Futral said.
There is already a comfort level. Futral’s children graduated from ECHS and staff at the Panther Branch have close connections through their children as well.
It all fits in with the education programs the bank was already doing with financial literacy programs. The banking program also fits into the career tech programs Elmore County Schools has.
“This is what we're talking about, we need these in every school,” superintendent Richard Dennis said.
A bank branch is not possible though at most schools in Elmore County as space is at a premium. In Eclectic, there was a small space that was once offices. Those were moved to a new addition at the school. The half classroom space was able to be repurposed thanks to an idea from principal Jason Eason. The Eclectic native was aware of the first Panther Branch in the library that was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He saw an opportunity to provide a unique educational setting.
“Anything we can do to help our students see some real life things is great,” Eason said. “These are things that they'll deal with from now until forever. So this opportunity for our students in our school to have this right here in the middle is great.”
The process of getting students to work in the Panther Branch starts with an expression of interest. They are vetted by teachers and then interviewed by staff with First Community Bank.Â
The importance of dress and being prepared with a resume is also stressed.
Selected students complete an internship between the sophomore and junior year at the Eclectic branch.
Four juniors are now “tellers” at the Panther Branch — Gracie Atkinson, Gracie Nicholas, Addilyn Tierce and Peyton Jackson.
“The summer internship was really a draw and because of all the things that we learned this summer,” Atkinson said. “I especially liked customer service and just learning how a bank system works. It was really cool.”
Nicholas has been in Eclectic schools since she was very young. She saw the Panther Branch in the library and wanted to be apart of an interesting experience. Tierce is a newcomer to the community and used the banking opportunity for additional reasons.
“I kind of did it more for the experience,” Tierce said. “I'm new to the community. I wanted to get more involved and meet new people around here.”
For Futral and First Community Bank the Panther Branch helps remind students of the bank’s mission to serve the community and hopefully keep many in the community after graduation.
“It's really an important part of keeping hometown students here with a career in the community they grew up in. It is a big focus of mine, but that's another way to enhance that community development, keeping your roots close to home.”
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