This fall, Red Bay High School will join the ranks of Franklin County High Schools with in-house bank branches.

Community Spirit Bank has announced construction of a new student-led Tiger Branch of Community Spirit Bank on the Red Bay High School campus.

“Community Spirit Bank places great emphasis on advancing the financial literacy of the students in our local schools. We believe by educating these students about financial issues, they will make better more informed decisions in the future, which benefits them, their parents and our communities,” explained Emily Mays, marketing director at CSB.

“We began researching the student-led branch late 2015, and after months of due diligence, we are looking forward to construction beginning on the new project. The location of the addition to the campus will be between the Junior High and Senior High hallways, where a current breezeway is located,” Mays said. “After working with school officials we were able to partner with them on closing in this breezeway area of the school as well, which will give better security to the school in general. However, all aspects of the student branch are paid from leasehold improvements the bank will make on the campus.”

Mays said traditional banking products will be available to Red Bay students and teachers only, as the Tiger Branch will not be open to the general public. In addition to learning valuable money management skills, student bankers will gain a first-hand learning experience on how to work together, interact with customers and adapt to real-world situations. These students will undergo a formal interview process, and those selected will gain valuable work experience while learning about real-world financial education.

“All Red Bay students, faculty and staff will be eligible to visit the Tiger Branch for their limited banking transactions,” Mays said. “We hope to utilize the branch to help further financial education to all grades, elementary through senior high.”

Mays expressed gratefulness to the Franklin County Schools superintendent, Board of Education and Red Bay administration for the opportunity.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring banking to these students and this campus. We believe it will serve generations of students and will be something that the students, faculty and administrators, as well as our community, can be proud of,” Mays said. “We are further proud to continue sponsoring the EverFi Financial Literacy program in nine area schools, which include Red Bay, Russellville, Tharptown, Belgreen, Phil Campbell, Vina, East Franklin, Belmont and Tremont. Last year this program resulted in 858 students being reached, with 651 completing their certification and a total of over 6,000 financial literacy modules being completed.”

“Community Spirit Bank is a 108-year-old financial institution and has a long history of investing back to the communities in which we serve,” said Brad Bolton, president/CEO of CSB. “Our mission as a community financial institution is to develop and serve our communities, customers and employees with a caring attitude offering stability, integrity and fairness. On behalf of the officers, directors and employees of Community Spirit Bank, we are excited to add this location where students can lead and demonstrate the ‘community spirit’ of their Tiger Branch, as we attempt to provide each day!”