‘Build a Bank’ initiative set to show students the world of daily business
A GROUP of transition-year students from Intermediate School Killorglin are learning first hand the responsibilities of running their own business, thanks to AIB’s new ‘Build A Bank’ initiative.
The nationwide challenge gives the Killorglin students an exciting opportunity to run their own school bank, with the support of AIB co-ordinators Eddie Bowler from AIB Killorglin and Kerry football star Colm Cooper from AIB’s Killarney branch.
Eoin Moynihan, who is the students’ Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) teacher, explained that the Build A Bank initiative saw all interested students formally interviewed by AIB staff, before a team of six students were selected to oversee the setting up, running and day-to-day management of a bank in their school.
The idea, Eoin explained, is to provide these students with the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of banking, particularly sourcing new customers and encouraging them to open AIB accounts and make regular savings.
“Because of the students’ ages, any money collected is dealt with by Eddie (Bowler), but apart from that, the students are operating an active bank at the school and seem to be really enjoying it,” Eoin explained. “We have a manager, tellers and marketing people and they’re filling out official bank forms and opening new accounts. It’s a great experience for them.”
The Build a Bank initiative is a nationwide competition to find the region’s most successful school bank, but Intermediate School Killorglin will wait until next year to take part competitively so they can gain more experience.
“This is our first year doing this we’re a little bit inexperienced as yet, but hopefully next year’s group will enter the competition,” Eoin explained. “For now, it’s about gaining the experience.”
