Heartland Bank Teaches Kids About Money, Helps Veterans

Clayton-based regularly gives back to the St. Louis community with several projects aimed at improving the financial literacy of youth, upgrading homes for people in need and more.

This summer, bank representatives a hourlong course for 10 weeks called Money Matters as part of the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation's Camp Classic. The camp hosts inner-city students ages 5 to 14.

Topics covered in the class included where money comes from, how to set up a bank account and how to earn interest, said Laura Strong, community development coordinator for the bank. Students received recognition during a graduation ceremony at the end of camp.

The bank also collected school supplies that were put into backpacks and distributed to students.

It's among several initiatives the bank participates in each year.

"We are also a big advocate of Rebuilding Together," said Bruce Shumate, vice president of marketing for the bank. That program brings together volunteers to perform general repairs on and bring up to code the homes of veterans and people who are elderly or have a disability.

That project generally happens in late April or early May. Heartland has been a home sponsor for the last three years, Shumate said. In a single day, Rebuilding Together volunteers can upgrade between 80 and 100 houses by tuck-pointing, performing yard work and installing new roofs, among other projects.

In November, the bank hosts a toy drive for Little Patriots Embraced, a program that provides care packages to families with members who are deployed in the military. During the holiday season, Heartland representatives collect donations for and volunteer with the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

Heartland has existed in some form since 1887. Until 1986, it was known as Economy Building and Loan Association, Shumate said. It employs about 50 people in Clayton and about 200 employees companywide.

The bank and other community institutions like it view themselves as community stewards, Shumate said. Service projects are "a great internal mechanism to bring our employees together."

Heartland also is an investor in the St. Louis Equity Fund, which builds affordable multi-family housing projects.