First Bank & Trust Company Participates in VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program

ABINGDON, Va., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 17, Virginia high school seniors will spend the day shadowing bankers at First Bank & Trust Company as part of Bank Day, a statewide effort sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) Education Foundation and the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders. The purpose of the day is to expose students to the banking industry and provide an opportunity for the students to learn about banking, financial services and the vital role First Bank & Trust Company plays in its community.

The third Tuesday in March was declared Bank Day by the Virginia General Assembly in 1991 and First Bank & Trust Company is proud to host students for this important program. From their experience, participating students will write an essay for the chance to win a scholarship. Six regional scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded by the VBA, and from those six winners an overall statewide winner will be chosen. The statewide winner will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship - $7,500 in total. There will also be six honorable mention scholarships of $1,000 each. In all, twelve students statewide will receive scholarships totaling $26,000.

During their visit, the students will observe various bank departments, learn about the loan process, the importance of good credit, the profile of a qualified borrower, appropriate etiquette during a job interview and how First Bank & Trust Company is involved in the community. First Bank & Trust Company will host students from Riverheads High School in Staunton and JI Burton High School in Norton. They will visit First Bank & Trust Company offices located on 1030 Richmond Road in Staunton and 303 West Main Street in Norton, Virginia.

"Bank Day is one of the best short-term, hands-on experiences for students—the opportunity to go inside the bank vault, to watch customer/bank officer interaction, to learn about the many services that banks offer, and to start the networking that often leads to part-time and summer jobs, scholarships, and a start on a career path in the financial world," said Bruce Whitehurst, President & CEO of the Virginia Bankers Association.

About First Bank & Trust Company
First Bank & Trust Company, one of the top community banks in the United States, is a diversified financial services firm with office locations in southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and New River and Shenandoah Valleys. Financial objectives are addressed by offering free checking products for personal and business accounts, and assessing lending solutions managed by mortgage, agricultural and commercial lending divisions. Comprehensive financial solutions are available through trust and brokerage service representatives. 

About the VBA Education Foundation
The Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation was formed in 2007 with the objective of recognizing the importance of economic education and financial literacy in Virginia and supporting the banking industry as a key participant in these areas. Their mission is to advance personal financial literacy to students in all public and private schools across the Commonwealth. Learn more about the VBA Education Foundation here.

For More Information:
Nicole R. Franks
Corporate Communications
First Bank & Trust Company
276-623-2323 ext. 207 [email protected]

SOURCE First Bank & Trust Company