First National Bank continues to improve financial literacy among children through Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Personal Economics Program (PEP).   Started in 1989, the program involves hundreds of bankers who volunteer their time to give consumer education presentations in their communities.  In the last year, Wisconsin bankers reached more than 58,000 individuals through PEP.  WBA supports PEP by providing a resource library of professional produced videos and curriculum materials and an annual training conference and awards ceremony

For the 2004 - 2005 school year, First National Bank had 15 bankers who taught 38 different classes, which reached 956 students ages 5 to 18. This is First National Bank's second consecutive year of record level success which has qualified the Bank for the Wisconsin Bankers Association State PEP award which will be given in October.

"First National Bank partners with all the communities it serves, so it's only a natural fit for us to be involved in this consumer education program," stated Co-Chairperson of First National Bank's PEP program and Assistant Vice President / Branch Manager Cere Turner.

Each year First National Bank names a PEP Representative of the Year.  This representative is someone who shows enthusiasm and truly embraces the PEP Program.  This year's PEP Rep of the Year is Sherry Westbrook who works fulltime at First National Bank’s Inman Branch location.  During the 2004 - 2005 school year, Sherry made 9 presentations that reached a total of 359 students.

First National Bank and Trust Company is a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, with $550 million in assets.  Chartered in 1882, First National Bank and Trust Company now serves more than 25,000 households in six communities and ten locations in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Steven M. Eldred, President and Chief Executive Officer is the fourth generation of his family to lead the Bank.  Commitment to full service banking, investments, asset management and exceptional service has positioned First National Bank and Trust Company as a stateline leader in the industry.

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