Growing Up a Banker’s Daughter

by Allie Diehl, Guest Blogger

When I was little, my dad being a banker wasn’t the most exciting thing to share on career day. It would be cool to say that he was an astronaut, a fashion designer, or a firefighter, but my dad “the banker” felt, well…boring (sorry, Dad!). It wasn’t until I grew up that I understood all I gained from being a banker’s daughter.

Learning how to save and grow my money was instilled in me from the get-go – no ifs, ands, or buts about it. When I got my first job, my dad made sure I knew about savings accounts, interest, and how to spend my money wisely. I experienced earning money through hard work and had to resist the temptation to spend all of my paycheck the day I got it. Instead, I tried to save up most of what I earned and only spend a small portion, so that when the time came that I really needed money, I’d have it. I’m thankful that I learned that lesson early on – and so is my bank account.

When I opened my first checking account, I was surprised at how little my friends and I were taught about banking in school. It felt overwhelming at first. Lucky for me, my dad was there to teach me how to fill out a check, read a bank statement, deposit checks into my account, and balance a checkbook. I also learned how use my debit card responsibly, and I love the convenience. I had fun customizing my check design (even though I’m not sure when I’ll ever need to write one?)! Not only that, but First Columbia let me customize my debit card too – picking a personal photo that was special to me. My dad even designed his card with a photo of me playing basketball in high school, which always makes me smile. Having my own personal card reminds me that it’s my money – and I need to take good care of it.

Now that I’m in college, I realize just how fortunate I’ve been to learn from my dad. I use First Columbia’s mobile banking on my phone all the time, and I know real-time where my finances stand. I can track all of my debits and credits and deposit checks through the app on my phone. It makes banking on the go so easy!

Looking back, I am grateful to be a banker’s daughter. My dad’s still not an astronaut or a firefighter, but now I realize how his job has influenced my life. Establishing good money management habits early on is really important. To be sure, your friends and neighbors at First Columbia Bank & Trust are here to help folks make smart financial choices and manage their money – at any age!

* Our guest blogger, Allison Diehl, is the pride and joy daughter of our President & CEO of Lance Diehl.