When looking to the future, Lake City Bank invests in more than just money. Growing people is just as important as growing balances.

Throughout its history, the bank has added programs that support financial literacy in its communities. Volunteers from the bank lead Junior Achievement programs in classrooms and live simulation settings. They host events called Reality Stores where students as young as third grade learn what it takes to run a household. They conduct financial wellness classes for high school students and adults on a variety of topics. All these programs are geared to help people understand the financial effects of the choices they make.

In 2021, Lake City Bank took financial education a step further when it opened a fully functioning branch inside Elkhart High School to serve students and staff. What sets this branch apart is that the students run it themselves, under the leadership of a retail banking officer. Having the branch inside the school makes banking less intimidating, and it offers practical experience for the students on both sides of the counter. The branch is part of the school’s Business and International Relations School of Study, one of six schools of study designed to prepare students for the future as they graduate high school.