Bank leaders, students team up for Junior Achievement BizTown experience

Interactive learning lab helps Minnesota students build financial skills and explore careers

A group of St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Cathedral Middle School students recently had the chance to work side by side with U.S. Bank Managing Committee members and other bank volunteers at the Junior Achievement North facility in St. Paul while learning the ropes of running a business and managing money.

The event was part of the Junior Achievement BizTown experience, which gives students the opportunity to lead businesses within a simulated community, complete with companies focused on health care, media, travel, construction, agriculture, banking and more.

“Junior Achievement North is focused on three things: career readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship,” said Maryse Birr, vice president of partnerships at Junior Achievement North. “We focus on preparing our youth to become prepared citizens and leaders of tomorrow.”

U.S. Bank leaders jumped into the experience with the students – making business decisions, learning about various careers and understanding how communities need all kinds of businesses to function smoothly.

At the center of it lies the BizTown U.S. Bank branch, where students can learn how to manage their paychecks, use debit cards and checking accounts, and apply for business loans.

“At U.S. Bank, we know that financial education matters, we know that financial health matters and we know it’s really important to start early,” said Reba Dominski, chief social responsibility officer at U.S. Bank and president of the U.S. Bank Foundation. “How you manage your finances, how you manage a paycheck, how you decide what to spend and how much to save – these are decisions that we’re teaching these kids that will serve them a lifetime.”

Souheil Badran, senior executive vice president and chief operations officer at U.S. Bank, also participated in the event.

“I felt inspired after participating in the Junior Achievement BizTown event alongside students from Cathedral Middle School,” Badran said. “Understanding financial concepts from a young age is more important than ever. It leads to more entrepreneurship, long-term financial health and stability, which builds new generational wealth. With U.S. Bank, I’m proud to support Junior Achievement North and their mission to prepare the next generation of financially literate and career-ready leaders.”

U.S. Bank and Junior Achievement have a longstanding relationship that includes both philanthropic support and volunteerism. In 2023, U.S. Bank gave more than $1.7 million in foundation grants and corporate contributions to Junior Achievement network chapters, and U.S. Bank Chairman and CEO Andy Cecere announced a new $10,000 contribution to Junior Achievement North during the BizTown town hall meeting for students and volunteers.

Additionally, U.S. Bank employees volunteered for more than 5,100 hours with Junior Achievement network chapters around the country and 40 U.S. Bank employees served on boards of Junior Achievement network chapters in 2023.

In recognition of this service, Junior Achievement North leadership presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to U.S. Bank. The award, granted by the president of the United States and the Corporation for National and Community Service, is a national honor that highlights the bank’s commitment to serving the community and the nation.

“We know about the importance of service,” Dominski said. “Our amazing U.S. Bank employees volunteered over 360,000 hours last year. That makes such a difference in community.”

For more about the event, watch the video below.