Better Banks announces scholarship opportunity for high school seniors

Scholarship Opportunity

Deadline February 25th

Better Banks is excited to announce a scholarship competition that enables Illinois high school seniors to enter a statewide essay contest. The CBAI Foundation for Community Banking provides monetary awards to top high school seniors across the state. The Foundation has $21,000 in prizes available this year. These awards help deserving students highlight the importance of community banking to the local economy. You could win up to $4,000 for higher education, and your school could win $500!

Judges will select the top essays statewide written by high-school seniors who best capture the following theme: How has your local community bank impacted you or someone you know?

Judges will be looking for an understanding of what a community bank is and its role in the local economy.
The essay should emphasize the philosophy of community banking, but MAKE NO REFERENCE TO A

SPECIFIC BANK, BANKER, NOR CITY.

The essay on the theme should not exceed one page and should be double-spaced, using Times New Roman font and 10-12 point size.

Your completed packet and essay must be submitted to the bank by February 25th. You can just drop it off at any of our locations or email your packet to [email protected]. The bank will then submit selected essays to the CBAI Foundation to be eligible for the statewide competition.

Please contact your local branch at 309.272.1000 to speak with any of our bankers if you have any questions or would like to discuss the theme.

Program Guidelines

Competition: The competition is open to Illinois high school seniors who are sponsored by a CBAI member bank; it is not based on financial need. Students must be U.S. citizens and Illinois residents. Student bank employees, plus the immediate families of any bank employees, board members, and CBAI employees, are ineligible. Students are asked to write a one-page essay on the theme (not to exceed one page in length); double-spaced using the font Times New Roman with 10-12-point size. Please don't submit your essay to more than one bank, or you will be disqualified.

Researching the Essay: Contestants will find the most meaningful research on the subject in a tour of a local community bank and an interview with a bank officer.

Essays: An original and two copies of the essay, the Official Application, and the Background Information Forms are to be submitted to a designated high-school counselor, English teacher, or other designated person at the school (if applicable). If the local school is not involved, students should return these documents to the sponsoring bank. A special local committee will review all manuscripts, select the local contest winners (if applicable), and send as many essays to the CBAI Foundation for the statewide competition as the bank is allowed.


Essay Integrity: Essays must be written entirely by the student, without additional correction, grading, or enhancement by any other party, including teachers and parents. Students may not collaborate. Students may not view other students' work before submission. Using the Wikipedia definition of a community bank will result in points being deducted. Violation of any of these rules will be cause for ineligibility for the essay.

Judging Criteria: Judges will use the following criteria to evaluate each essay: understanding of the community banking philosophy, accurate information, clear and concise sentences, logical organization, proper grammar, correct punctuation and spelling, and a conclusion/summary.


Deadline: Essays must be received by the CBAI Foundation via the sponsoring bank by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, to be eligible for judging. Check with the local sponsoring bank for its preliminary judging deadline. Essays received by the CBAI Foundation after March 2nd will not be accepted for judging.

NOTE: Semi-finalists will be required to present their submission to a community group of at least five individuals; the purpose is to increase understanding of our profession. Semi-finalists will also sign an Intent Form indicating they intend to continue their education at a college, university, or accredited trade school.


Scholarship Amounts: Monetary awards will be given in addition to any other grants or awards the student may receive and will be made directly to the winners. However, the winner must sign a statement that they will use the award to further their education. The monetary awards provided for the overall winner will be $1,000 per year for up to four years of higher education, with up to 11 additional awards of $1,000 and up to 12 second-place awards of $500 each, depending on the quality of the essays. A $500 check will be presented to the overall winning student's school. Non-monetary &"Honorable Mentions" may also be awarded.

 

Entry Assignment

PLEASE WRITE A ONE-PAGE ESSAY ON THE FOLLOWING THEME:

How has your local community bank impacted you or someone you know?

(Length of the essay is not to exceed one page; double-spaced, using Times New Roman font, and 10-12-point size)

Program Checklist

MAKE SURE:

  • You complete both the Student Application and Background Information Sheet. 
  • You submit one page on the theme (not to exceed one page in length), double-spaced, using Times New Roman font, and 10-12-point size.
  • The names of a specific bank, banker, and/or city are NOT in your essay. 
  • Your name is NOT on the essay; Only on the Student Application and Background Information Sheet.
  • You send TWO copies of the essay.
  • Include your e-mail address and cell phone number (if applicable). 
  • Your submission should be made through a CBAI member bank.

    You may not submit an entry to more than one bank, or you will be disqualified.

ESSAYS MUST:

  • Be double-spaced 
  • Not exceed one page in length
  • Be in Times New Roman font 
  • Be in 10-12-point size 
  • Be sponsored by only one CBAI Member Bank