West Plains, Mo. – Since 2012, West Plains Bank and Trust Company has offered community debit cards to customers. The cards feature designs for school districts where the bank has branches, Missouri State University – West Plains, and Ozarks Healthcare. Each time a card is used to make a purchase at a retailer, $0.03 is added to a donation presented annually. The total for the program in 2026 is up nearly $18,000 over 2025, coming in at $114,575. Across the life of the program, more than $807,000 has been donated.
Individual amounts presented, based on the number of point-of-sale transactions associated with each card design, goes as follows: Fairview, $4,080; Glenwood, $4,351; Howell Valley, $2,749; Junction Hill, $2,939; Richards, $3,854; West Plains R-7, $31,678; Mountain View-Birch Tree Schools, $19,813; Willow Springs Schools, $21,325; Houston Schools, $7,122; Ozarks Healthcare, $10,422; and Missouri State University – West Plains, $6,242.
According to West Plains Bank and Trust Company President/Chief Executive Officer David M. Gohn, the annual check presentations are eagerly anticipated. “It’s exciting to see how much the donations have grown over the previous year,” he said. “Our marketing team makes visits to each recipient to present checks for their community debit card proceeds, gathering video content and taking photos. It’s an exciting tour and we always enjoy the responses when they hear their totals and share plans for the dollars they receive.”
Gohn said the popular card program is simple. “Customers choose a design and each time they use their cards to make purchases at retailers, West Plains Bank and Trust Company adds to a donation, which is presented annually,” he explained. “Our bank is committed to supporting education and healthcare in our local area. We are the only local bank with a community debit card program that gives back. These funds allow the recipients to pursue projects and meet needs that otherwise might go unfunded.”
Customers of West Plains Bank and Trust Company who would like to switch to a community debit card design may reach the Customer Call Center at 417.256.2147 to request one. The cards are free-of-charge to customers who switch and to any new West Plains Bank and Trust Company customers.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company opened its doors to customers in 1883, making it the oldest continually operating business in the area. With 140 years of service to the local region, total assets of West Plains Bank and Trust Company have grown to more than $760 million with seven locations and a loan production office. For additional information, visit www.westplainsbank.com or call 417.256.2147.
