In 2023, The Championships, Wimbledon, launched the campaign “Always Like Never Before.” This campaign, continued in 2024, looked to the future of Wimbledon as the tournament embraced a new era of players while, simultaneously, honoring the iconic history of the matches played on that pristine grass.

The idea of honoring tradition while moving forward with renewed purpose has felt especially relevant in recent months as staff from the VBA and MBA have been working to remerge our respective bank schools. While this collaboration may feel new to many, it is in fact a return to our shared roots. From 1962 to 1975, MBA and VBA jointly hosted a state banking school, laying a strong foundation for leadership development across both states. When MBA established a separate school in 1976, each association continued its commitment to developing the next generation of banking leaders.

Now, 50 years later, that shared legacy comes full circle. From August 2-7, 2026, the schools will reunite – bringing together decades of excellence, industry expertise, and invaluable peer connections. With this renewed partnership, it felt only fitting to embrace a name that reflects our collective future. We are proud to welcome students to UVA’s Darden School of Business for the inaugural session of the Mid-Atlantic School of Banking.

Even amid this change, we remain firmly committed to delivering a rigorous, high-quality program to equip bankers not only in their current role, but also for future leadership roles at their bank. The school will continue to be led by exceptional faculty from higher education, banking, and consulting who will foster challenging and thought-provoking discussions. The friendships and networks developed during the school will be ones that will endure for decades. What is evolving is how the experience comes to life – from reviving beloved traditions (yes, kickball is back) to creating new ways to connect and engage bankers across a broader geographic region.

We are excited to bring together the best of our shared history and a clear focus on what today’s banking leaders need next. Learn more about the curriculum, experience, and application process here and consider who your bank will have joining us this summer for the newly reimagined Mid-Atlantic School of Banking in Charlottesville.