Money Smart Week poster contest winners announced

     F&M Bank in conjunction with Community Bankers of Iowa (CBI) sponsored the Money Smart Week Poster Contest to motive elementary school students to learn about money. For showing Iowa bankers what they know, students in second through sixth grade had the chance to win either a $600 Certificate of Deposit (first place prize) or a $300 Certificate of Deposit (second and third place prizes).

     As part of Money Smart Week 2017, which was held April 24-29, elementary students submitted poster designed to participating community banks across Iowa. Posters were to answer the question: “Why is it important to know about money?” F&M Bank in Monticello received submissions from Monticello Middle School fifth graders; Sacred Heart second, third and fourth graders; and Carpenter second, third, and fourth grade classes.

     In March and April, Karen Verhagen of F&M Bank visited area elementary classrooms to teach the students about banking and different aspects of money. Students in Monticello applied what they learned regarding saving money for the future to their creative poster designs. The students had a great time and were excited to be a part of the poster contest.

     At Sacred Heart, the fourth grade students played “Decision Tree” and had fun while learning about spending and saving, as well as good and bad financial decisions. In addition, Sacred Heart fifth grade students asked a lot of questions on how their parents make financial decisions on a daily basis. They were given choices about saving and spending and it was up to them to use their best judgment.

     The colored posters were displayed in the windows of F&M Bank, City Hall, the Veterans Hall, and throughout the Monticello Public Library. F&M Bank had over 300 posters from three different schools, and five winners were selected by the employees.

The local winners were:

     • Emersen Verhagen, second grade; Samantha Rucki, third grade; and Connor Eastin, fourth grade; all from Carpenter School

     • Sienna Hendricks, fifth grade, Monticello Middle School

     • Haili Schlarmann, fourth grade, Sacred Heart School

     Each of the local winners received an F&M Bank gift bag filled with a gift certificate to The Cone Shoppe, a beach towel, snorkel swim mask, piggy banks, money rulers, pencils, and an F&M Bank water bottle.

     F&M Bank thanks all area schools for participating.