Dec. 21, 2006 – FirstBank's Students First program is sending a message to students: become a Super Saver and you will be rewarded. Launched in December 2003, Students First is an educational and practical saving program, initiated to share principles and concepts of saving and basic banking with all Virgin Islands students. To date, over 1,000 students have opened accounts and are reaping the benefits of saving.
FirstBank staff visit schools and conduct classroom presentations, after which students have the opportunity to open their own savings account with a minimum deposit of $5. Once enrolled in the program, kids gain automatic membership in the Students First Kids Club. This entitles the students to a membership card, special offers at participating V.I. businesses, invitations to special activities (movie days, bowling, putt-putt golf, Easter egg hunt) and bi-annual newsletters. Savings results are measured at the end of each year to decide which student saved the most on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
On Oct. 12, FirstBank took the opportunity to congratulate the St. Croix Super Savers, Argenis Bermudez, Shequanya Klyvert and Kiana Sheriff for their hard work and commitment to saving. Each student received a certificate of achievement and a $50 savings bond from FirstBank. Seemore the Sea Turtle, the official Kids Club mascot, presented the students with their certificates. He is a familiar face to the students, as he is often present at Kids Club events and a variety of cultural, and island events. His motto is "Saving is Fun!"
FirstBank will be expanding the Students First program to the public junior high and high schools during the 2006-2007 school year. It will be presented to all public schools in the U.S.V.I. as scheduling allows, and subsequently to private and parochial schools.
