Heartland third graders hold their $10 gift certificate deposit from Henderson State Bank.
Henderson State Bank had an active month of April, spreading financial awareness to the younger generation in several 3rd grade classrooms, emphasizing the importance of saving money.
The topic of knowing the difference between a need, versus a want, was the first focus. Just how does a child of this age obtain money was a group discussion. The obvious follow-on topic was a discussion of how to handle money and the decisions of spending versus saving. The bottom line is – the decisions we make as youths are the foundations of lifelong habits. Such attitudes will determine in part how each individual exploits the opportunities life presents. Saving for college, a car, a home, hot dogs & cookies, insurance, clothes, a family…and the list went on!
These 168 third graders are thinkers! During the 30—to 45-minute presentation, these youngsters thought through life from age 9 to 99, grappling with life’s challenges and deliberating the value of saving money for needs and wants in each stage of life.
An important part of the conversation was the topic of how and where one saves money. Leaving our money lying around the house, in a piggy bank, or in that special hiding place exposes it to potential loss by theft, fire, tornado, flooding, or even having your dog eat it (young imaginations at work) would be devastating!
By depositing money into a savings account, the Bank pays you interest, unlike the cash and coins lying around at home, which do not work for you. Your money is protected against theft or from being a snack for a hungry pet, and it is insured by the FDIC. Watching the balance of a bank account grow to satisfy a long-term goal is so rewarding!
The Board of Directors at Henderson State Bank has continued to offer to each 3rd grader a gift certificate worth $10 for a deposit to an existing account, or for opening a new savings account at any Henderson State Bank location. If, after January 1, 2026 the funds remain in savings, an additional amount of $10 will be deposited as a bonus for being a diligent saver! Who said it does not pay to go to school on a lovely April day!
Teaching Children to Save is conducted in cooperation with the Nebraska Bankers Association. Henderson State Bank is fortunate and thankful that the following schools in or near our Bank branch locations allowed us to be part of their students’ experience;
Heartland Community School—Henderson/Bradshaw, Giltner Public School, Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School—York, York Elementary, and Central Valley Elementary School—Scotia.
