2026 VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program Student Resources
Welcome to the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program! This page is dedicated to resources for students participating in the virtual VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program. Students will have access to this page beginning March 2.
Student participation criteria reminders:
- The student must currently be enrolled as a high school senior.
- The student must hold a 3.0 or higher GPA.
- The student must be a resident of Virginia.
- The student must attend a high school in the state of Virginia.
Scholarship Amounts: $28,500 Total will Be Awarded in 2026!
- $1,000 Each for six honorable mention scholarships
- $2,500 Each for six regional winners
- $2,500 Statewide runner-up winner ($5,000 total since all candidates will also be regional winners)
- $5,000 Statewide winner ($7,500 total since all candidates will also be regional winners)
Welcome Message from Gary Shook, Community Bankers’ Bank, and VBA Education Foundation Chair
Program Timeline
- Beginning March 2: Students have access to the Bank Day resources
- March 27 by 5:00 p.m.: Student essays are due to the VBA. Please see the Essay Information section below for more information about essay submission.
- By the end of April: Honorable Mention and Regional winners will be announced
- By May 1: The statewide winner will be announced
Essay Information
2026 Bank Day Essay Topic: What did you learn through your Bank Day experience or from Bank Day resources that will help you manage your financial future AND what did you learn about how banks support their communities?
Please remember that the essays are due to the VBA by March 27 at 5:00 p.m.
Download the Essay Planning Document Here!
Essay guidelines
- The essay must be typed in English within ONE Microsoft Word or Google document (please do NOT submit PDF documents).
- Please submit your document with the following file name format: “First Name Last Name”
- Essays must not deviate from the assigned topic. The essay MUST address both parts of the essay topic.
- Do not use any Microsoft or Google templates or pre-formatting in your document.
- The essay must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font.
- Page set-up must include 1.5 line spacing with all margins set to 1 inch.
- Include a title page (a separate page within the Word/Google document containing your essay, not a separate document) with the following information:
- Name
- E-mail address
- Phone number
- School’s name
- Name of virtual host bank
- Date submitted
- Title of essay
- Do not include your name or any personal information on any page other than the title page.
- The essay is limited to two pages (not including the title page or works cited page). Writing beyond this limit will result in disqualification.
- Those who plagiarize will be disqualified. All ideas must be your own. Any references must be cited. No part of your essay can be generated, written, or edited by artificial intelligence tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Grammarly, or similar technologies.
Essay Submission Information
Essays must be submitted to the Virginia Bankers Association by March 27 at 5 p.m. Late submissions and submissions not written according to guidelines will not be accepted.
- Essays must be submitted using the following link: https://forms.gle/dvtETnSAEP7gZZVg8
View a PDF of the Essay Guidelines Here!
Essay Selection Criteria
Student essays are assessed by members of the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders (EBL), a group of more than 620 bankers that connects Virginia’s emerging bank leaders to engage them in the future of the banking industry. The essays are sorted into six regions based on the students’ home addresses and are reviewed by bankers who do not reside in that region (student names are removed from the essays before the scoring process). Those bankers select the top two to be named the regional and honorable mention winners. The regional winners’ essays are then sent to the statewide runner-up and winner selection panel, which consists of banking executives from across the Commonwealth.
Essays are scored using the following rubric:
- Content: 40 Points
- Adherence to the essay topic
- Logical interpretation of the topic; easy to follow
- Creativity: 40 Points
- Interesting and thoughtful presentation of the topic
- Accuracy: 20 Points
- Grammatically correct
- Proper format and adherence to essay guidelines (please see essay guidelines above for more information on how to structure the essay)
View a PDF of the Essay Selection Criteria Here!
Resources: Watch
Through this series of videos, you will learn more about the banking industry, ways to manage your financial future, careers in banking and the ways that banks support the communities they serve.
The State of the Banking Industry: A Look Back and a Glance Forward
Presenter: Bruce Whitehurst, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association & Virginia Bankers Association
In this video, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association and VBA President & CEO Bruce Whitehurst provides an overview of the VBA and the current banking industry landscape. This video will enable you to better understand the banking industry and issues that are at the forefront of bankers’ minds.
View Bruce’s presentation on the banking industry here.
Banking fundamentals
Presenter: Jennifer Knighting, First Bank, Virginia
In this video, you will learn about different financial institutions, the advantages of being “banked”, basic services provided by financial institutions, and ways to avoid common debt problems.
View Jennifer’s presentation on banking fundamentals here.
View the Banking Fundamentals PowerPoint Here!
banking 101
Presenter: Jamie Covey, United Bank
In this video, you will learn about basic bank functions, bank structures, and products and services offered by financial institutions.
View Jamie’s presentation on Banking 101 here.
View the Banking 101 Slides Here!
Understanding credit
Presenter: Lynda Phillips, TowneBank
In this video, you will learn about the information used to make up your credit score, the importance of a good credit rating, and ways to check your credit annually. Please note that this video was recorded before Old Point National Bank and TowenBank merged in 2025.
View Lynda’s presentation on understanding credit here.
View the Understanding Credit PowerPoint Here!
Careers in Banking Video Series
Presenters: Nathalia Artus, Atlantic Union Bank; Ryan Eisenberg, TowneBank; Jamie Johnson, Primis Bank (formerly of Chesapeake Bank); Nicole Martin, Benchmark Community Bank; Amy Mellinger, Powell Valley National Bank; and Marcus Wade, Bank of Botetourt
In this series of videos, you will learn about different careers in banking and what personality traits, skills and courses support each of the job functions at a bank.
- Introduction & Careers in Banking Overview
- Branch Operations
- Human Resources, Marketing & Public Relations
- Information Systems
- Community Outreach
- Compliance
View the Becoming a Banker PowerPoint Here!
community engagement panel
Panelists: Meredith Elliott, TowneBank; Amy Mellinger, Powell Valley National Bank; and Kari Van Wassen, Chain Bridge Bank
In this video, Meredith, Amy and Kari discuss the variety of ways banks across Virginia support the communities they serve. They discuss the industry’s role in financial education, diversity, equity and inclusion, and other partnerships with community organizations.
View their discussion here.
other video resources
- Find Your Future in Banking | American Bankers Association
- How a FICO Credit Score is Determined | EconLowdown
- Cryptocurrency 101: A Banker’s Perspective
Resources: Read
Students are STRONGLY encouraged to check their virtual host bank’s website and social media platforms for more specific information about ways the bank supports your local community. Consider searching for the bank’s most recent Annual Report or Letter to Shareholders on its website.
- Virginia: Banks’ Economic Impact
- On this site, part of the American Bankers Association’s America’s Banks website, you’ll learn how Virginia’s banks are supporting our state’s economy with consumer, business and other loans, how bankers are safely serving their customers and communities, and how banks are providing more than 45,000 people with a rewarding place to work.
- Infographic: Career Opportunities at America’s Banks
- Research finds finance industry leads in corporate social responsibility
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Quick Facts
- 2024-2025 Issue of Virginia Banking Annual - This publication serves as a “year in review,” covering the Virginia banking industry and the VBA from June 2024-June 2025. Features include reflective thoughts on the year from VBA President & CEO Bruce Whitehurst and VBA Chairman Victor Branch; a look back at advocacy efforts from VBA EVP & COO Matt Bruning; legal and regulatory summary updates from VBA General Counsel DeMarion Johnston; highlights and pictures from VBA education and training events and financial literacy programs; and more!
- Virginia Bankers Association’s Facebook Page
- On our Facebook page, you can see the variety of ways Virginia banks are supporting their communities, with a focus on financial literacy efforts.
- Check out the VBA Newsroom and In the News sections of our website to read about bankers making an impact across the Commonwealth.
Resources: Listen
- Podcast: Building a Career as a Community Banker | ABA Banking Journal
- Podcast: Celebrating Bankers’ Community Commitment | ABA Banking Journal
- Podcast: Maggie L. Walker’s Historic Mission of Financial Empowerment | ABA Banking Journal
- Podcast Series: We Were Economic First Responders |
ABA Banking Journal- All Hands on Deck
- Culture Shock
- Their Finest Hour
- Hear banker stories behind the Paycheck Protection Program in a three-part podcast series
- ABA Fraudcast: Cyber and Fraud with Paul Benda
Understanding Student Loans: Resources from VBA Associate Member College Ave
Through these videos and blog posts provided by VBA Associate Member College Ave, you’ll learn more about the student loan process and tips for paying for college.
You can learn more about College Ave here.
Videos and Blog Posts:
- How to Pay for College: 6 Ways to Cover Your Costs
- 10 Financial Strategies to Cover Your College Costs
- Student Loans 101: How Student Loans Work
- How To Apply For The FAFSA
- What is the Cost of Attendance?
- When Should You Take Out a Private Student Loan?
- How to Read Your Financial Aid Award Letter
- How to Find a Cosigner
- Big Changes Ahead for Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS Loans: Here’s What You Need to Know
- 6 Ways the One Big Beautiful Bill Will Impact College Students and Federal Student Loan Borrowers
Other Resources from College Ave:
- About College Ave
- Cosigning Private Student Loans
- Credit 101
- College Planning Worksheet
- College Costs Worksheet
College Ave $1,000 scholarship monthly sweepstakes
As an additional scholarship opportunity, you can enter to win a $1,000 College Ave scholarship. They’ll choose one lucky winner each month, so be sure to check back each month to enter! Learn more and enter here.
Thank You to Our Bank Day Bank Hosts & Sponsors!
Thank you to the following Bank hosts!
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Thank you to the following bank sponsors that contributed to the 2025 VBA Education Foundation Annual Fund Campaign. These contributions directly support the scholarships awarded through this program!
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