Monday, April 28, 2008

Financial Literacy

The last two weeks have been busy here at Choice Bank. I am happy today, on this cold spring day, to have the opportunity to reflect on Choice Bank's Financial Literacy Initiative.

There are astounding statistics out there such as Americans save, on average, less than 1% of their income! We have hears kids say, "How can my account be overdrawn? I still have checks in my check book!"

The topic of financial literacy is one that concerns everyone. It seems that many children don't have a handle on the concept of money. Here in the bank we have debated this topic to no end, asking how this has happened? We always end the discussion with an even bigger question. How do we make a change? How can we help teach children (and even some adults) the value of a dollar?

Our big start was to sponsor the Newspapers in Education Financial Literacy Tab. It was distributed in the Oshkosh Northwestern and in schools on April 17th. The day before its distribution we held a launch event for Oshkosh area teachers. At this event we found many teachers asking the same questions I mentioned earlier.

In our quest to broaden financial education in the community please let me know if you have any ideas! Teachers, thank you for all that you do! I am hoping that soon we will have an online opportunity for all of you to share your ideas and lesson plans. I'll let you know as soon as we do!

In the mean time...
If you have a blog post about Financial Education e-mail it to me at getsmart@choicebank.com and I'll add it to this discussion.

Ann

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Wow

Every week the Choice Bank team gathers together to talk about what is happening in the bank. One thing we do is share WOW experiences that we came across during the week. Sharing these helps us to remember that if we turn a customer's ordinary banking into an extraordinary experience then they will walk away with a WOW too. Occasionally on this blog I'll be sharing these experiences (since they are many times to good to keep to ourselves).

My WOW experience at Jelly Belly
If you every find yourself in Pleasant Prairie make the trip to Jelly Belly. When you're ready for a taste test from the Jelly Belly Bar ask for Sam; you'll be glad you did!

Sure, Sam could hand out one bean at a time like the others but he looked beyond the bean. "What can I get you today," he asked from behind the colorful wall of Beans. "An Almond Joy? Snickers? Maybe you'd like a rum and coke, red wine or a margarita," he offerd. After placing my selection he carefully made a mix of one bean of this and three beans of that and the next thing I knew I was eating an almond joy made of Jelly Bellies.

What is extraordinary about this...? Every person who walks into Jelly Belly expects to get free samples, but who that day was expecting to taste a snickers made of jelly beans or a Jelly Belly "mixed drink?"

Sam doesn't just hand out the tasty beans; he creates Jelly Belly experiences.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Welcome To Oshkosh Johnny!


What a great week in Oshkosh! Johnny Depp sightings and a brand new look for the Choice Bank website!

If you have found our blog that means you must have traveled through our new website. It was just launched yesterday and we couldn't be happier. Some of my favorite features of the website are the web outs on the Home Page, Mortgage Tab & Business Tab, the Community Calendar, and the Financial Literacy Library.

We have done our best to make the sight informational and easy to navigate. If you think of something I've missed on the site let me know! That's what this blog is all about!

What do you think of the site? Do you have any suggestions? LETS TALK!