September 10, 2024, ushered in a new banking era for students at Eustis-Farnam Elementary School. The students, staff, representatives from Waypoint Bank – Eustis, Nebraska Council on Economic Education, and Eustis Chamber of Commerce officially opened the Stampede Student Branch at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the school. 

The Stampede Student Branch – limited to savings deposits – is part of the statewide Nebraska In School Savings Program. The sixth-grade students of Eustis-Farnam Elementary received training from Waypoint Bank and will rotate as tellers throughout the 2024-25 school year.

“Waypoint Bank is proud to partner with Eustis-Farnam public schools to open our new Stampede Branch,” said Waypoint Bank – Eustis Assistant Vice President Tristan Newcomb. “I have visited a few classes and taught some banking fundamentals, but this will dive into a more realistic banking setup that the students can experience and learn the steps of making a deposit.”  

“We are thrilled that Waypoint Bank was interested in partnering with us to bring this incredible program to our school,” said Eustis-Farnam Elementary School Principal Taylor Jenner. “Our students are being gifted a real-life experience that will help to set them up for a successful financial future, and we are excited to see how it positively impacts them.” 

Before the branch could open, 12 sixth-grade students received training from Waypoint Bank employees. The goal was to equip them with the skills to assist younger students in learning basic banking principles. These older students will serve as peer educators, sharing the financial skills they’ve acquired with their younger counterparts.

Nebraska In School Savings Program teaching ‘essential’ skills

Newcomb highlighted the training the sixth graders received, explaining that they were taught essential banking skills, including how to act as a teller, handle deposits, and develop professional customer relationships. This hands-on experience provided these students with a deeper understanding of banking operations. “Banking and finance are part of everyone’s everyday lives,” she said. “It’s something everybody needs to know.”

Student bank branches are part of the In School Savings Program across Nebraska, which helps expand economic and financial literacy across the state. Research shows that in-school savings programs contribute to saving habits by influencing students to open a bank account early.

“The students will maintain their accounts for the duration of their elementary careers,” explained Jenner. “Upon graduation from the program, student savers will receive their accumulated savings and be encouraged to continue their established saving habit.” 

“You never know – some future bankers may develop from this student branch,” suggested Newcomb.  Waypoint Bank hopes to give the students at Eustis-Farnam Elementary a solid financial background, knowledge, and tools they can utilize to achieve their future goals.

Staff of Waypoint Bank – Eustis and members of the Eustis Chamber of Commerce welcome the Eustis-Farnam Elementary School 2024-25 sixth-grade student tellers.

L-R Matt Newcomb (chamber member), Audra Kobs (chamber member), Jennifer Robertson,(chamber member), Tristan Newcomb (chamber president, bank employee), Ryker McMichael, RiAnne Morrain, Autumn Timmons, Maddie Oberg, Logan Smith, Avery Oberg, Jackie Koch, Kinley Spiegel, Kellan Newcomb, Octavias Koewn-Junkin, Stacey Maurer (chamber member), Lacey Parker (chamber member), Chloe Maurer (chamber secretary, bank employee), Evelyn Bartruff (chamber member), Mari Banzhaf (chamber treasurer, bank employee), and Jacob Rupe (bank employee).

Last fall, Waypoint Bank – Cozad opened the Cozad Elementary School Haymaker Student Branch.

2023-24 school year by the numbers:

50 savers each week

144 participants

1,186 individual deposits

$7,029.01 total saved

Congratulations to Haymaker Student Branch for a successful first year! The second school year kicked off earlier this month: 20 fifth-grade tellers re-opened the branch and are looking forward to encouraging more student savers.