We promote and provide an educational environment in which employees can freely express innovative ideas and ways to improve our services to the WRHS student body, staff, and community. We provide customers with the best banking environment while educating them about responsible financial practices.
The Washburn Rural High School Bank opened for business on August 17, 2005, and has been in operation for 20 years. The bank is located in the commons area, on the southwest side of the building, across from the cafeteria. The WRHS Bank is a student-run organization with the intention of educating the WRHS student body on financial literacy and other finance topics. Along with educating students the bank handles the finances of our student-run businesses in the school, club dues, play tickets, and dance tickets. Currently, the bank is run by three seniors, five sophomores, and one sophomore. The bank was opened and sponsored by Silver Lake Bank who provided the bank with start-up cash, and equipment and continues to offer training for the staff each year. The bank only offers savings accounts and has a current interest rate of 4.5% which is the highest interest rate in the city of Topeka. The WRHS Bank has opened up approximately 1541 accounts. The accounts are open to any student in USD 437, staff at WRHS, clubs, sports, the WRHS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), and local businesses within the school. In 2013 we started the Jr. Blue Crew; it is our saving and investing program. We are encouraging students to save their money each and every month. Account holders need to make a $10.00 deposit each month to become eligible for the monthly prizes and the grand prize investment of $500 at the end of the school year.
The services the WRHS Bank provides are opening new accounts, completing daily bank transactions including deposits, withdrawals, money transfers, cashing checks, and providing bank statements, as well as encouraging investors, career development, marketing, exploring and utilizing business technology, teamwork, development of leadership skills, employee relations, customer service, and career opportunities. The funds that the WRHS Bank accumulates go into marketing projects, educational programs, technology and equipment updates, and operating costs.