How Vinton County National Bank Embodies Community and Career Connected Learning

‍Written By: Kaitlin Streator, BB2C Communications and Engagement Coordinator

When businesses invest in local students, they aren't just engaging in corporate social responsibility—they are actively shaping the future of their own workforce and community. That belief sits at the heart of Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C), and its partners- and few partners embody this mission quite like Vinton County National Bank (VCNB). Through their hands-on work with local schools, financial literacy programs, and direct hiring initiatives, VCNB fully subscribes to what is called Community and Career Connected Learning- an educational framework that bridges classroom instruction with real-world work experiences and community involvement. 

True partnership requires meeting schools where they are rather than dropping in with a rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculum. Brandi Betts, VCNB’s Corporate Communications Officer, said VCNB approaches community and career-connected learning by first seeking out what each school partner is looking to achieve.

 "We don't want to come in and say, 'Here's our program, here you go.' We like to go in and say, 'What do you need? And how can we work together? How can we be good partners?'"

VCNB holds a financial bootcamp at Vinto County High School

Whether introducing basic savings concepts in elementary classrooms or conducting mock interviews with high school seniors, VCNB tailors its involvement to serve the real-world needs of local students and educators. Betts said implementing these programs at an early age is not only important for the students, but it helps the bank bolster its talent pipeline. 

"We have a longstanding tradition of hiring local kids as they are graduating from high school as seasonal employees. That's always one of the goals—can we give these kids the opportunity to have a job different than what they might find, say, in fast food? It's been life-changing for some," Betts said.

By placing young adults directly into offices alongside experienced bankers, IT professionals, and market directors, students gain early exposure to career fields they might never have considered.

"We've hired kids that we have interviewed in mock interviews,” Betts said. 

“We've not made them come back for a second one—we just knew that we liked them. So that's been a really beneficial thing for the students and for us."

Betts went on to explain that banking operations, accounting procedures, and IT protocols can all be taught on the job. What can’t easily be trained, Betts said, are empathy, communication, and community pride. VCNB views its community and career-connected programs as a way to find local youth who already possess these foundational human qualities and keep them rooted in their home counties.

"We can teach you how to be a banker. What we cannot teach you is how to care about another human being,” Betts said.

“We can't teach you attention to detail. We can't teach you to be enthusiastic when you answer the phone. Those soft skills have to be integrated into a human being."

By hiring locally, VCNB ensures that students who want to build a life in their hometown have a viable, fulfilling career path waiting for them.

From monthly "Bank Days" in elementary schools—where students bring in spare change to build savings habits—to teaching high schoolers about credit scores and car loans, VCNB prioritizes direct human connection over simple marketing.

"Billboards and advertising only do so much for a business,” Betts said.

VCNB Employees participate in a 4th of July Parade

“What really matters is the personal interactions that you have with those human beings. And when you start with someone who is young, and you're there in an advisory capacity helping them in some way, they remember you for that."

The relationship between VCNB, local schools, and BB2C demonstrates what happens when a community financial institution views local youth as its most valuable long-term investment.

"What is good for the bank can also be good for the community, and vice versa,” Betts said.

“The best way for us to be good neighbors sometimes is in being able to help our neighbors with things like teaching their children some interview skills [and] giving them a chance at a job that may be life-changing for them."

By connecting classrooms to real-world careers, VCNB isn't just serving its current customers—it is preparing the workforce, leaders, and community members of tomorrow.

Love this story? You’re in luck! You can hear more stories like this and learn how other businesses are implementing Community and Career Connected Learning at BB2C’s Annual Summit on September 18th at Washington State College of Ohio. Register for the Summit at: https://www.bb2careers.org/upcoming-events/2026-community-and-career-connected-learning-summit