Top student saver calls for more sunny skies

June 6, 2019 | TS Bank

At a recent Iowa Western Community College Arts Center performance, a TS Bank employee overheard their young, neighboring audience member exclaim, “Mommy, that’s my bank!” Intrigued by the girl’s enthusiasm, we wanted to learn more about kindergartener Brynne Morehead.

Turns out she’s one of the top student savers at the TS Bank College View Little Lynx Branch. So we sat down with Brynne for an interview.

What do you love most about your bank, TS Bank?
“That the bank gives us prizes for every $10 I deposit.”

Why did you decide to open a bank account with TS Bank?
“So I can save money for things that I might want later, like toys or vacations.”

What’s the first word you think of when you hear or see TS Bank? What do you feel?
“Money!” “I am excited when I see TS Bank, and it makes me want to make another deposit.”

Why is it important to save? Why do you choose to save?
“I save so when I’m older I can have money for buying stuff, and for my family.”

What would you tell your friends about TS Bank?
“I would tell them that TS Bank is nice, and I like banking with them.”

Click the photo or here for more information on the in-school banks, including our one-on-one interview with Brynne Morehead.

TS Bank has six in school student banks in southwest Iowa, including five within Council Bluffs Community School District. Student banks include Rue, Franklin, and College View Elementary, Wilson Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High School.

The College View Little Lynx student bank opened on Sept. 5, 2017, and has over 26 student visitors each week and to date has a total savings of $13,095.

“TS Bank coming in as a student branch helps support our International Baccalaureate program. As an International Baccalaureate World School, our students take action and we are global thinkers,” said College View Principal Amy Glime. “This opportunity helps the student take action and to learn about financial literacy and understand the power of saving.”

The student banking program is part of the K-12 curriculum with TS Institute, TS Bank’s nonprofit financial literacy arm that works to help create a more financially savvy future generation. On average nearly 700 students in southwest Iowa are impacted each month with programming and in-school banking.

“I’m most excited about the opportunity to collaborate not only with TS Bank, but with the school districts. It’s exciting to know when you made a difference with the students and the staff,” said Traci Dresher, programs coordinator with TS Institute. “Those connections you make in the school really helps with the relationship that you are building with this institution.”

Fifth grade students are interviewed for student banker positions and undergo various bank training, including client service and the importance of confidentiality.

When asked why he wanted to be a student banker, student Rylan Dorr answered, “I just wanted the responsibility.”

“I’ve been really interested in how I’ve been saving my money, and I just wanted to help other kids with that too,” he said. “For me, the best part of the job is seeing how successful the kids have been in saving their money, and some kids get so high up they get $500 saved – that’s really good!”

The long-range goal of the in-school banking program is to help teach the habit of savings and ways financial literacy connects to student’s future career opportunities and life skills.

When Brynne grows up, she wants to be a baker. Maybe even open a bakery. This kindergartener is a girl after our own entrepreneurship hearts!

Brynne also said she loves dogs, playing golf and visiting the zoo. Her favorite color is pink and purple and her favorite thing about school is reading - and that they get snacks! We give a high five to that too, Brynne!

And lastly, not only is her possibility of running her own small business on the horizon, we know Brynne is going to do great things because of her positive and compassionate spirit.

When asked, “If you were queen for the day and could change one thing, what would it be,” she answered: “I would make it sunny, every day!”

Heading into summer, here’s to more bright skies ahead and an even brighter future for our dear, young friend, Miss Brynne Morehead!