Key Insights
- As of August 2026, 30 US states now require completion of a personal finance course as a graduation requirement.
- In-school banking programs can be a proven driver of customer growth and deeper community relationships.
- School banking initiatives can start small as smaller projects before scaling to a full branch model.
Did you know that before Monopoly became one of the world's best-known board games, it originated as a teaching tool? Monopoly grew out of The Landlord's Game, patented by Elizabeth Magie in 1904, to help players see how decisions, rents, and monopolies shape financial outcomes.
More than a century later, the same idea that people learn best by doing is creating an opportunity for community financial institutions (CFIs). Personal finance is increasingly required in many high school curricula, giving CFIs a real chance to make this learning hands-on. While some institutions have run branches inside local high schools for decades, the national rise of financial literacy requirements means this model could enable CFIs to combine education with real experience while building relationships with the next generation.
Personal Finance Education is Going Mainstream
Next Gen Personal Finance's 2026 State of Financial Education Report found that 30 US states now require a standalone personal finance course for high school graduation. The Council for Economic Education puts the number at 39 when embedded requirements — personal finance content folded into a course like economics — are also included. While the methodologies differ, both reports highlight the same trend: financial literacy is fast becoming a core part of high school education across the US.
New York City's new in-school banking pilot reflects the same momentum. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, 15 public high schools are partnering with 12 financial institutions to provide on-campus banking, financial education workshops and, where possible, career development opportunities. While most participating institutions are large banks, the model is one CFIs can replicate, bringing classroom lessons to life through practical banking experience and building early financial relationships with the next generation.
Lesson Plans from CFIs Already in the Classroom
In-school banking programs help pair classroom learning with real-world experience. Depending on the model, students may open savings accounts, make deposits, learn budgeting, or even help run a student-operated branch under supervision.
Here are some examples of CFIs that have been using this model for years:
- First Metro Bank, based in Alabama, with $1B in assets, operates six student-run branches inside local high schools. The branches offer traditional banking services for the school community while giving students hands-on experience with deposits, withdrawals, account opening, customer service, and basic banking operations. Each summer, incoming student tellers receive training covering cash handling, customer service, account opening, and security, with teachers helping to oversee daily operations.
- Bank of Zachary, a $400MM-asset community bank in Louisiana, opened its Bronco Branch inside Zachary High School in 2024, shortly after the state introduced a financial literacy graduation requirement. Run during lunch periods, the branch offers banking services and functions as a training environment to complement the school's financial education curriculum. The bank hires student tellers, some of whom go on to work weekends and holidays at other Bank of Zachary locations.
- Visions Federal Credit Union, a $5.2B-asset New York-based credit union, has embedded full-service financial wellness centers in schools across its footprint. The program started more than a decade ago with students working a few hours a week as tellers. Over the past five years, Visions has hired dedicated financial wellness officers to run the school partnerships and now trains about 50 high school interns a year through a summer academy. The branches offer standard deposits and account services, paired with classroom presentations and professional-skills training.
- Atomic Credit Union, an $869MM-asset credit union in Ohio, runs the country’s largest student-run branch program — nearly 100 locations across 39 school districts, with around 1,000 student volunteers. The credit union’s membership has grown from around 25,000 to nearly 89,000 since 2011 when the program started, with the program being credited as the primary driver.
Five Principles for Making In-School Banking Work
For CFIs considering an in-school banking program, getting the fundamentals right can make the difference between a one-off initiative and a lasting partnership.
1. Start with the school. Build the program around the school’s needs, schedule, and student population. Define clear roles for the bank, school, and other partners.
2. Connect to the curriculum. Align banking activities with what students are already learning, turning lessons on saving, budgeting, and credit into practical experiences.
3. Make it hands-on. Give students opportunities to open accounts, make deposits, set savings goals, or participate in supervised branch operations. Experiential learning can reinforce financial knowledge and habits.
4. Start small, then scale. A permanent branch isn't essential. Banking days, classroom programs, or trips to a nearby branch can provide a lower-cost starting point before expanding the model.
5. Think beyond the students. Bring parents and families into the program and consider its wider potential. Financial inclusion and community engagement can lead to career exposure and workforce development.
As financial literacy becomes a standard part of high school education, there are opportunities to support students to apply what they're learning in real-world settings. CFIs are well-positioned to provide that experience. School banking programs can be a long-term investment in a CFI’s communities and can deepen local relationships, improve financial inclusion, strengthen an institution's reputation, and create an early pipeline of future customers and employees.
