Banking

REAL LIFE BANKING IN THE CLASSROOM

     Many business managers and supervisors express concern regarding the lack of professional skills from the young people entering today’s job market.  In 1996 Bath Savings Institution took a very decisive and committed approach toward solving that problem.

     The bank entered into a unique partnership with the Bath Vocational Regional Center.  While local businesses have loaned technical support for vocational classes, other businesses have provided money for special programs, and business people visit the school and talk to the students, Bath Savings works as an equal partner with the school to provide a banking program to the students.

      Bath Savings Training Center is a fully equipped branch office of Bath Savings, managed by a full-time bank employee, Jacquie Smith.  It serves as a lab for students interested in the field of banking.  The Training Center is now in its seventh year of operation.

     The idea of the program is to provide students the kind of training they will need to get jobs when they graduate.  The banking program is the only vocational program in the school that has a dress code.  Students apply for the program and are interviewed just as they would for any employment.  They are asked to sign a Code of Ethics and confidentiality is highly stressed.

     Bath Savings Institution Glen Hutchinson says, “This is real life, this is how a real bank looks and feels and operates.  This is real experience they can put on their resumes, rather than just having taken a course.  Contributing to educating students is the best investment we can make as a bank, and we are proud to help.,”

How It Works

During school hours the Training Center will offer full banking services to the school community.  Our ATM will be accessible when the school building is open.  Savings accounts and certificates of deposit are available to all students.  Students under 18 years of age may have a checking account and an ATM card if the account is jointly held with a parent and legal guardian.