FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTGOMERY – A total of 59 students from across the state graduated from the Alabama Banking School on July 19.

Christy Higgins and George Henry from Central State Bank graduated this year from the Alabama Banking School. Headquartered in Calera, Central State Bank also has locations in Pelham, Alabaster and U.S. 280.

Held at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, this year’s Alabama Banking School was the 44th since the school first began in 1976. Lee Lawson of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance served as this year’s commencement speaker. Alabama Banking School Director Chad Jones awarded diplomas to the graduates. Jones is a member of the leadership team at First Bank of Alabama headquartered in Talladega.

Sponsored by the Alabama Bankers Association, the school is administered by a 26-member faculty comprised of bankers and industry professionals. Faculty members are dedicated to teaching the latest trends and best practices to help students become more knowledgeable bank employees. The school’s staff consists of former graduates who are active bankers in the state of Alabama. Students attended three week-long sessions during a two-year period to complete the program. At the conclusion of each session, students must successfully complete two final exams. While not in session, students are required to complete extensive home study problems.

During the third and final session, students form teams and participate in a bank simulation program called BankExec. This program allows students to make strategic decisions for a virtual bank to offer a complete picture of how these decisions affect bank performance.

The Alabama Bankers Association represents 155 banks. Banks in Alabama have combined deposits of more than $100 billion and have 1,466 locations across the state.