THE CITIZENS BANK PARTNERS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS IN CO BRANDED DEBIT CARD PROGRAM – SCHOOL STASH.
January 3, 2014 5:11 pmThere is a long-standing tradition at The Citizens Bank: supporting area students and the schools they attend. But that financial support has taken on a new dimension as the Philadelphia-based community bank has launched its School Stash Debit Card program.
Bank President Greg McKee said the program was being designed to “provide additional funding for schools in the communities where we operate.” He explained that the School Stash program contributions are based on the quantity of qualified transactions conducted by account holders carrying the bank’s VISA Debit Card and reflecting the local school that customer chooses to support.
“Existing Debit Card holders and new customers have the opportunity to receive a Debit Card of the school system of choice,” he explained. “Every time a specific debit card holder uses his or her card and selects “Credit” instead of “Debit”, thereby avoiding use of a Personal Identification Number (PIN), the bank will donate $.05 to that customer’s selected school system.”
McKee further explained that the donations would be made by the bank, and that there is no cost to the customer in the School Stash program. “Obviously, the more a person uses their debit card in this manner, the more funds are provided to the school,” said McKee. “And as more people select and use their debit card with us, in this manner, the donations can become very significant.”
“If you pause for a moment to do the math, you realize that the contributions could really make a difference for many school systems.”
Jackie Hester, Vice President and Marketing Director at The Citizens Bank, said the bank has, for the past decade, provided $1,000 scholarships to juniors and seniors in each of the counties in which the bank operates, with an additional $500 contribution provided to each school the scholarship winners attend. “The scholarship program will continue, and its success has evolved into our working to come up with additional ways to support our schools, including the School Stash debit card program,” she said. Hester noted that among the educational or youth organizations that receive financial support or sponsorships from The Citizens Bank includes 4-H Clubs, Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, Distinguished Young Women, Mississippi School Nutrition and United Way, “just to name a few”.
“In our role as an independent, community bank, The Citizens Bank believes our investment in children and their education is an investment in the future,” she said. “So, in that regard, we would encourage everyone who would like to support their schools to drop by any of our locations, open an account and apply for the Debit Card of their choice.”
The Citizens Bank operates branches in Attala, Forrest, Lamar, Lauderdale, Leake, Kemper, Neshoba, Newton, Oktibbeha, Rankin, Scott and Winston Counties.
“A School Stash Debit card from The Citizens Bank is not only a way to help raise money for your local school,” she said, “but because it’s emblazoned with the colors and mascot or logo from that school, shows a person’s school spirit.”