Citizens Bank offers local students employment via intern program

Citizens Bank Minnesota has hired Mitch Miller, Kristen Luepke and Sadie Blackstad as the 2009 T.E.A.M. Future Bankers interns.

Miller and Luepke will be working at the New Ulm office and Blackstad will be working at the LaSalle office.

Mitch Miller is the son of William and Sharon Miller of New Ulm. He will attend St. Thomas University in the Fall.

Kristen Luepke is the daughter of John and Lorna Luepke of Courtland. She will be a senior at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in the fall.

Sadie Blackstad is the daughter of Craig and Brenda Blackstad of Hanska. She will be a senior at New Ulm Senior High in the fall.

"Training, Educating, And Mentoring" (T.E.A.M.) Future Bankers is a statewide summer youth jobs program presented by the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota (ICBM) in partnership with the Pohlad Family Foundation. In its fifth year, the program is designed to create meaningful employment opportunities for high school students, ages 16 to 19, by introducing them to the varied aspects of community banking - and possibly, a future banking career.

This year's program will place more than 70 interns in community banks across the state. For some community banks in rural areas that struggle to retain local talent, the program is an opportunity to interest students in banking careers in their own hometowns.

Participating banks often return to the program each year, helping to expand the internship opportunities and grow the program's success. This will be the third year that Citizens has participated in the program.

A strong educational component is emphasized, which includes an introduction to financial services basics. Combining work and play, the program also features a special Twins game event each year, courtesy of the Pohlad Family Foundation.