Hello Mr. Banker! | Gabby’s Class Goes To The Bank

Field Trips were an amazing time when I was a kid. I hope that didn’t change for Gabby’s Pre-K class last week. Her class, all 19 kids, came to visit my Bank last week.

You can imagine the amount of pressure on a well-to-do dad like myself to impress my daughter in front of her friends.  After all, she talked about the Papa John’s guy for months after he taught them how to make pizza on their other field trip.

All I do is run a Bank. How fun, right?  How could I make their visit to a bank interesting?

It began a week before they arrived. I visited Gabby’s class and explained to the kids what banks do.
“Ok kids. Banks help people borrow money, save money, and use money.  Pretty simple, huh?”

Then I explained to them that when they came to visit me, I’d show them all of the places and people in a bank that help people borrow, save and use money. I also explained that if they had time I’d like to get them to help me find something. A key… to a special box called a safe deposit box that’s kept in a special safe called a vault.

Of course, I explained that a safe deposit box is where people keep valuables like diamonds and jewelry (even though my safe deposit box only has birth certificates and titles in it!). The kids eyes lighted up with excitement.

When they arrived at the bank I asked them if they remembered the three things that banks do. Imagine, 19 four and five year olds screaming in unison “borrow, save, use”.  That’s what I imagined too. Too bad that’s not what they said.  If you were there, you would have heard “buy Barbies.. go to the movies…” etc.

Finally, I got them to remember all three things after some careful questioning.

We began in the lobby and I gave an overview of what we’d see during their visit.
“First let’s get a look at that box with the missing key” I said. So we did.  The kids could hardly concentrate on the rest of the tour they were so excited.

“Now let’s go to the teller line. Which of the three things that banks help us with do you think Mrs. Barbara does?”  They watched as she cashed a check for a customer and with a resounding “use!” they cheered out. We were on to something!

We then went to the personal bankers desk and asked the same thing. As Teresa, our Personal Banker, began to explain that she helped people borrow and save the kids became anxious and couldn’t help but to ask, “Have you seen a key?”
“No.” she said. “Maybe you should check outside by the ATM. I saw some people out there earlier.”

The line of kids shuffled outside to see the ATM. Pretty UNimpressive… unless you are a five-year old looking for treasure! I explained what the ATM does for people and they yelled out “use!”.

Then I suggested we take a look at the vacuum tubes in the drive through.

As we sent the tubes back and forth the kids noticed something shiny in the tube.  It was a key.   A key was stuck in the tube.  All of as sudden I had 19 very ecstatic 5 year-olds on my hands.

There was no stopping them.  We hurried in to see what was in that box.  Before we opened it, I agreed to share whatever we found in the box since it was abandoned.  I called Gabby to the front and handed her the key.  The Safe Deposit Boxes are dual control meaning it requires a guard key and the box key which the kids found.  I had Gabby turn the box key as I turned the guard key.  The box clicked and the door swung open.

The kids were on pins and needles! I opened the box and they all shouted “Gold!” and they were right.  Well, gold dollar coins anyway.  I bought them and put them in there before the kids got there.
They were so excited! The kids had come to the bank, learned what banks do, and got to take home some money!

The treasure was all mine though. The look of pride on Gabby’s face as she beamed and said, “That’s MY daddy!”