West Plains, Mo. – For eight years, West Plains Bank and Trust Company has offered community debit cards to customers featuring designs for school districts where the bank has branches, and Ozarks Medical Center (OMC). The total for the program in 2020 is up $9,454 over last year, coming in at $51,714. Across the life of the program, more than $270,000 has been donated to schools and OMC by West Plains Bank and Trust Company.
Checks were presented to the schools and OMC during drive-through style celebrations to ensure social distancing. During these celebrations in West Plains, Willow Springs and Mountain View, bank employees cheered, used noisemakers and otherwise created fanfare as the groups proceeded through and collected their checks.
According to West Plains Bank and Trust Company President/Chief Executive Officer David M. Gohn, the annual check presentations are eagerly anticipated. “As a bank, we always look forward to presenting the checks to the organizations each August,” he said. “This year was different, but we had a great time presenting the checks in the drive by parade.”
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.”
Individual amounts presented, based on the number of point-of-sale transactions associated with each card design, were: Fairview, $2,710; Glenwood, $2,320; Howell Valley, $1,620; Junction Hill, $1,634; Richards, $2,504; West Plains R-7, $18,287; Mountain View-Birch Tree Schools, $11,644; Willow Springs Schools, $5,183 and OMC, $5,812.
Customers of West Plains Bank and Trust Company who would like to switch to a School Spirit VISA Check Card should call the Bank to request one – 417.256.2147 in West Plains, 417.934.1047 in Mountain View and 417.469.5013 in Willow Springs. The cards are free-of-charge to customers who switch and to 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 137 years of service to the local region, total assets of West Plains Bank and Trust Company have grown to more than $484 million with six branches and one loan production office. For additional information, visit www.westplainsbank.com or call 417.256.2147.
