mom in the morning or donuts with dad and then get into work a little bit later.” The retention strategy proves particularly important given that most employees came with the acquired banks, bringing established customer relationships and local knowledge. “We don’t want to lose them to a downtown Wichita bank,” Stucky says.“We would like to keep them in their communities.” INVESTING IN FINANCIAL LITERACY Financial education programs at Vintage Bank Kansas cover elementary schools through college campuses, addressing knowledge gaps that traditional curricula often miss. Candace Wolke, Chief Credit Officer and Market President of Conway Springs, oversees initiatives that teach practical money management before students face real financial decisions.“We go into the schools and do financial literacy classes,” Wolke says. “We start in elementary school doing some very basic things, the difference between needs and wants and just how to save money.” The curriculum becomes more sophisticated as students age. High school programs introduce checking accounts, credit basics, and budgeting fundamentals. By the time students are seniors in high school, the focus shifts to loans and credit.“We go into the school and do classes for seniors on how to manage your student loans, how credit actually affects you in real life, not just your credit score but how you use it when you’re trying to get a loan to purchase a home or to purchase a car,” Wolke explains. Conway Springs, located 30 miles southwest of Wichita in Sumner County, maintains a population of approximately 1,086 residents where agriculture remains central to the local economy. The bank’s educational approach recognizes that many students will eventually manage farm operations or small businesses requiring substantial credit understanding. These early interventions aim to prevent costly mistakes that can shadow borrowers for years. The programs also serve a relationship-building function, introducing the bank to future customers while they’re still forming financial habits. “It’s just
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