The History of Bank It
Leadership Northwest Oklahoma Class II
Leadership Northwest Oklahoma, (2010-2011) participants graduated Class II in May of 2011. As part of this leadership class they were to ‘contribute to the their community in a positive way’. The class was composed of 12 employees from various businesses in town, and fortunately, 3 of the local financial institutions had a representative in the class. Each member was eager to begin their leadership role in the Alva Community. As brainstorming began for their community service project, ideas started forming about how to get our community in the habit of giving to those
in need. The leadership class wanted to encourage people to embrace a Habit of Helping. Bank ON AlvaWe wanted the people of Alva to Bank on Alva.
Why not Bank It at your local Bank? Whatever ‘It’ is, Bank ‘It’. CommUNITY VisionThe class also wanted Alva to have a positive Vision for its future: a CommUNITY Vision, that people could believe in and get excited about.
The Bank It idea was appealing to the members of this class, because;
Bank InvolvementThe leadership class asked each of Alva’s 5 financial institutions if they were willing to support Bank It by being a ‘donation location’ and allow community members to donate supplies, funds, or time to a CommUNITY Vision. Each Bank in Alva enthusiastically agreed. Some pledged to help with advertising costs, some pledged to be a donation site, and some even pledged to match a portion of the funds donated towards each CommUNITY Vision.
Participating Alva area Financial Institutions: Alva State Bank & Trust Company BancCentral, National Association Community Bank High Plains Bank Hopeton State Bank The Big IdeaThe goal of the Bank It: A Habit of Helping Foundation is to create a habit, a small inexpensive habit. What better habit than raising funds for, and supporting our community people and projects in need? Bank It has developed a board of directors, bylaws, and has monthly meetings to direct the foundation. Each year the Bank It board of directors will collect applications and vote on community nominated people and projects in need. 3-4 worthy projects will be selected as the Bank It CommUNITY Visions for that year. If you know of a possible project that may need assistance, please contact Bank It via e-mail to nwbankit@gmail.com, visit them on facebook (Northwest Bank It), or apply online at www.ahabitofhelping.com. The goal of this foundation is to create a habit of helping, where community members may donate time, supplies, or funds, each pay period, to Bank It for the benefit of the current CommUNITY Vision. Donations can be made at any local bank. Additionally, community members may sign a pledge form to
electronically donate funds each month. Even better, a portion of those funds may be matched by the participating financial institutions. Bank It has written in the bylaws that a percentage of funds donated will be allocated to a“Growth Fund” and a “Rainy Day Fund” for families in crisis. These funds will grow throughout the life of Bank It. The Growth Fund is set up to aid Bank It in minimal marketing costs and as this fund continues to grow, Bank It hopes to pledge funds towards larger CommUNITY Visions. If a family in this community has a life changing crisis occur, the Rainy Day Fund will provide support where needed. This could be used in examples of fires, tornadoes, cancer victims, and serious car injuries or accidents. 20% of all donated funds go to the Rainy Day Fund. 15% of all donated funds go to the Growth Fund. Think of these funds as a LOVE Fund for all of Alva. As stated previously, the community support of Bank It is steadily and rapidly growing. During the holiday seasons of 2009 and 2010, Bank It raised funds for the Woods County participating Food Banks. Community members donated food and funds at each bank in Woods County. In 2011 Bank It evolved into a year long community service project and now focuses on 4 worthy CommUNITY Visions per year. It has been growing in popularity every since. The Future of Bank ItBank It’s future growth is dependant on the continuation of the Alva community and financial institution support. The next goal is to gain county-wide support, inviting all banks in Woods County to participate in Bank It. The long term goal is to gain possible state-wide support through inviting other counties to support Bank It, and involving various other Banking Agencies to participate. Before Bank It can begin to look into the future and the long term goals, it is important for Bank It: A Habit of Helping to continue to grow in Alva and gain support from more community members. The Financial Institutions and many community members believe in Bank It and have offered their support in the future growth of this foundation. The potential of this project is extremely exciting and many believe this foundation could help future community projects and people in need, not only in Alva, but county and state-wide.
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President: Magen Lehr Vice President - Tasha Hamil Secretary/Reporter - Kelsey Martin Historian - Halah Simon Member - Christie Kornele Member - Baylea Hada Member -Joe Parsons Begin Your Habit of Helping Today!Print and fill out a pledge form today and drop off at any Alva Bank to begin helping!
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