FBEF Scholarship/Loan Program:

Bank employees and college students seeking a career in Florida banking are eligible for financial assistance through the Florida Bankers Educational Foundation Scholarship/Loan program. The FBEF has been assisting students with their educational expenses since 1956, helping more than 2,000 students in that time.

This forgivable loan program is available to college juniors, seniors and graduate students who plan to work in the banking industry upon graduation. In addition, students who have already worked in Florida banking for five years or more can apply for grant funding at the freshman and sophomore levels.

How You Can Help the FBEF:

In order for the Florida Bankers Educational Foundation to continue providing financial assistance to students, the foundation relies upon contributions from both banks and individual donors.

As a Florida banker, you may wish to give back to the industry by investing in the quality of tomorrow’s bankers by contributing to the FBEF and having a scholarship/loan established in your name, or in the name of a loved one.

There are many ways to contribute to the FBEF, and remember, every gift is tax-deductible.

• Cash or check payable to the Florida Bankers Educational Foundation;
• pledges over time;
• Gift of long-term appreciated stocks or bonds; or
• Planned gifts in will/bequest.

Endowments of $40,000 or more allow the giver the opportunity to have a fund established in their name, or in the name of a loved one. It also allows the giver to establish specific application requirements, such as preferences of students from a particular area of the state or to students attending a particular school.

If you cannot donate money, you can still contribute to the foundation by volunteering your time as a scholarship/loan program interviewer. Students applying for the program with fewer than five years of full-time employment in the Florida banking industry are required to meet with a local interviewing banker.

The interviewing banker is provided with a survey form to use during the interview, which typically last no more than 30 minutes and is useful in determining whether or not the student is genuinely interested in working at a Florida financial institution. After the interview is complete, the banker is asked to fill out the form, make a copy for their records and forward the form to the FBEF office.

If you are interested in making a donation to the FBEF, please download the donation form below.

If you would like volunteer an interviewing banker, or would like more information about the FBEF, please contact FBEF Director Letty Newton.

Click here for the DONATION FORM