Investing in Financial Education 

June 12, 2025 By: PeoplesBank0 comments

June 2025 – Madisonville, TN Peoples Bank of East Tennessee Invests in Financial Education Across Local Communities 

Peoples Bank of East Tennessee (PBET) proudly continues its mission to empower individuals and strengthen communities through its growing Financial Education Program. Throughout April and into May, in alignment with National Financial Literacy Month and Tennessee Financial Literacy Week, PBET team members actively engaged students and community members across East Tennessee with a series of educational visits, workshops, and events designed to build strong financial foundations. 

Engaging the Next Generation 

In schools across the region, PBET staff partnered with educators to make financial education both fun and impactful: 

• At Vonore Middle School, Becky Duncil and Diane Belcher had fun playing bank bingo, learning banking basics, and returned to teach students how to create a personal budget.  

• Sweetwater Team: 11 classes at Brown Intermediate School participated in an exciting round of Bank Bingo, learning how to save, budget, and manage money responsibly. 

• Copper Basin Elementary School welcomed Miranda Schall and Cory Callihan from our Ducktown and McCaysville branches, where they read to first graders about the value of saving money.  

• Maryville Junior High School hosted Amy Kirkland and Hayden Gibson of our Maryville branch, who teamed up with teacher Larry Walker to discuss money goals and healthy financial habits. 

• In Athens, Rhonda Wilson and Joe Holbrook visited McMinn County’s Senior-TN Success Class to explore real-world financial literacy topics with high school seniors. 

• In Tellico Plains, Amber Davis and Donna Millsaps brought fun and learning to the Boys & Girls Club of Ocoee – Rural Vale Unit with an engaging session of Money Bingo.  

Supporting the Broader Community 

Beyond the classroom, PBET extended its outreach through informative community sessions: 

• In Madisonville, Dustin Atkins, CIO, led a Lunch & Learn on Financial Fraud & Scam Awareness, arming attendees with knowledge to identify and avoid scams and identity theft. 

• PBET also partnered with the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce to deliver a Cybersecurity Lunch & Learn, also presented by Dustin Atkins, offering guidance on digital safety and protecting personal information. 

• Dustin Atkins also took time at Rocky Springs Baptist Church to teach a lesson on Preventing Financial Fraud & Scam Awareness.  

“Financial literacy is more than just a lesson; it’s a lifelong skill,” said Beth Henry, SVP Retail Branch Coordinator. “We are proud to work alongside schools and local organizations to bring financial knowledge and confidence to students, families, and professionals across our footprint.” 

A Long-Term Commitment to Education 

While these efforts began as part of April’s Financial Literacy Month, PBET is turning this momentum into a long-term, year-round campaign. The bank is committed to continuing its Financial Education Program as a permanent resource for local schools, families, and communities, offering ongoing lessons, classroom visits, and outreach events throughout the year. 

Our goal is to create a lasting impact by embedding financial education into our community outreach year-round. We’re helping build smarter, more confident financial decision-makers at every age. 

From elementary and high school classrooms to community centers, Peoples Bank of East Tennessee remains dedicated to empowering the next generation and this generation with the tools they need to make informed financial decisions. 

For more information or to schedule a financial literacy session, visit or reach out to your local Peoples Bank of East Tennessee Branch.