JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A student-run branch of VyStar Credit Union opened Tuesday inside Mandarin High School, the fourth branch VyStar has opened inside on a Jacksonville-area public school campus.
Students and teachers gathered for the ribbon cutting event for the facility, which resulted from apartnership between the credit union and Duval County Public Schools.
Students and teachers at Mandarin High can now bank right on campus at a facility run by students like senior Tyler Weeks.
"A lot of people have been hired from student-manager positions to actually being a full-time employee at VyStar," Weeks said. "It's a really cool opportunity and it's going to look great on resumes and for college."
Weeks and 11 other student interns had to go through an interview process and complete an intensive 10-week training program. They work as tellers, service representatives and even auditors. Throughout the year they'll switch positions so that they can gain experience in every aspect of this branch.
VyStar paid to turn a classroom into a full-functioning branch where students and teachers can open checking and savings accounts, deposit and withdraw money.
The program goes hand-in hand with the district's Finance Academy and offers real-world experience, promotes financial literacy and develops the future workforce.
"I'm really excited to see a lot of students coming in, opening savings accounts and start saving up," Weeks said. "People getting interested in business and financial literacy. I want these types of things to be taught more in schools."
VyStar said it is looking to expand its on campus branches to more high schools.