Independent Banker - May 2023 - 63

Next: The benefits of TCM Bank 
lineup of speakers, including:
 FAFSA experts from the Iowa
College Access Network
 Iowa Student Loan (ISL) Education
Lending personnel, who can
provide assistance if a family isn't
getting the financial help with
the scholarships, grants or other
financial aid they had hoped for
 Local high school guidance
counselors, who can help with
local scholarship questions and
explain the various types of college
entrance requirements
 Local community college
representatives
According to Irlbeck, local
community colleges can present
alternative options for students not
looking to pursue a bachelor's degree.
In addition, Availa Bank currently
has seven FAFSA-certified staff
members. To qualify for this
certification, they had to take training
sessions and pass an exam that
enables them to help people with
questions they have while filling out
their FAFSAs.
" We also partner with the Iowa
College Aid Network to help families
with the more tricky or unique
situations, " says Irlbeck. " We help
families walk through their situations
and then try to help them figure
out how to appropriately fill out
the FAFSA. If we can't answer their
questions, we then refer them to the
ICAN team. "
Growing class sizes
The popularity and value of the
program has been growing. " I started
the event in 2015 in Carroll, Iowa,
which is where our main branch is
located, " Irlbeck says. " The first year,
attendance wasn't terrific, but since
then, we've seen increases annually. "
Irlbeck says she receives calls
regarding college financial items at
communities that the bank serves, it
attracted more and more participants.
To accommodate the growing number
of students, the bank has held College
Night at larger venues including the
local chamber meeting room. This
year, the local junior college will
host the event.
" I believe the Kick Off to College
" If we can help
[families with
college-bound
children] walk
through the
process and
show them ways
they can make
college work for
their family, it is
a great feeling of
accomplishment. "
-LISA K. IRLBECK, AVAILA BANK
least once every quarter-a testament
to the need and demand for college
preparedness events.
Availa Bank has even had to change
the venue for College Nights twice
due to outgrowing its space. In the
early days, the annual event was held
at the bank's main office in Carroll,
but as the event expanded to other
Night... is a wonderful opportunity
for parents and students to hear from
professionals regarding financial aid,
the benefits of completing the FAFSA
and programs offered through our
local [community college] campus, "
says Dennis McCarthy, Carroll High
School guidance counselor and
psychology teacher. " It is a one-stop
shopping experience. "
Benefits for all
Irlbeck finds it personally rewarding
to help students and their parents
with the college application process.
" When parents look at the cost of
college, they immediately have sticker
shock, especially when some schools
come in well over $40,000 a year, " she
says. " That is a lot of money and can
be a very scary and intimidating thing
for families to think about. If we can
help them walk through the process
and show them ways they can make
college work for their family, it is a
great feeling of accomplishment. "
Overall, the program has been
beneficial for the bank, as well. " We
have not only opened numerous
student accounts; we've also received
a lot of positive publicity from the
event, " Irlbeck says. " The feedback
from attendees has been amazing. We
even have people from other banks
attend our College Night events with
their families, which, in a small town,
is the biggest compliment of all. "
In 2022, the bank sponsored College
Nights for parents and students from
six of the communities it serves.
" Thinking about all of the necessary
steps for students to take to pursue
postsecondary education can seem
like a daunting task, " says Bailey
Konz, counselor at Kuemper Catholic
High School, " but events like [College
Nights] really help break things down
into more of a checklist format. " 
William Atkinson is a writer in Illinois.
independentbanker.org // 63
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Independent Banker - May 2023

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