FLORIDA SCHOOL OF BANKING
August 5-11, 2012: Reitz Student Union, University of Florida, Gainesville

Click here to download a brochure for the Florida School of Banking

Click here to download a Class Schedule for the Freshman Class

Click here to download a Class Schedule for the Junior Class

Click here to download a Class Schedule for the Senior Class

The purpose of the Florida School of Banking (FSB) is to provide bank personnel at the supervisory and officer level the opportunity to increase their knowledge about the banking industry and the economy. In 2012 the school will celebrate its 43rd year of investing in banking education.

This school is conducted on a three year cycle basis, and the one week long annual sessions must be taken in sequence. It is presumed that once students are enrolled in the first year course, they will continue through the second and third year to graduation.

Participants taking all three years of the cycle will receive a good basic introduction to the banking industry and, upon receiving a passing mark, will be awarded a diploma at the graduation ceremony. The Florida School of Banking remains relevant as attested by the 2,639 graduates, and continues to offer an excellent educational opportunity.

Each student must make and pay for their own sleeping room reservation for the week at School. It is recommended that students stay at the Hilton Conference Center, which is in close proximity to Reitz Union and has accommodated our students for several years with much success and reliability. The Hilton is located at 1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL, 32607, 352-371-3600. Please note, however, that this is strictly the decision of each student and their supervisor.

Also please note that effective July 1, 2010, the entire UF campus is adopting a “Smoke-Free Policy.” Our daily classes are on the UF campus, and no smoking will be permitted.  To read the full policy from the UF website, click here.

The FSB begins on Sunday afternoon with registration, freshman class orientation and an opening banquet later that same evening. Orientation is where the freshman learn the rules and policies of the school, and are given a chance to get to know one another better by introducing themselves to the rest of the class. This is a good time for the freshmen to become acquainted with the J. Wayne Reitz Student Union where all of the classes are held. Everyone has a good time reacquainting themselves and making new and lasting relationships. After the banquet, the seniors head back to class for their first "decision", and the Juniors have the night off.

Bright and early Monday morning the freshman get right to work learning the fundamentals of banking such as understanding bank balance sheets, federal reserve and monetary policy, and personal financial analysis. The juniors are returning for more of the same in addition to diving deep into commercial and consumer lending topics. The seniors start their year on Sunday afternoon with the Bank Management Computer Simulation, while everyone else is still registering.

The senior class is divided into many teams of banks that exist only in cyberspace. These teams use their previous two years of education and compete against each other in simulated banking communities for deposits, loans, etc; much like in a typical city. To make the exercise interesting, our simulation leader throws variables into the mix each day, such as fluctuating interest rates, loan losses, etc. And to make the simulation as realistic as possible, we have our own resident regulator roaming around the room making sure everyone is in compliance with all regulations, as well as helping out when possible.

For the Seniors, the whole week leads up to a final presentation that must be given by each team to a resident "bank board of directors." The presentation, and the following question and answer period, typically last approximately twenty minutes. All team members must contribute and have a chance to present their portion of the talk. After it's all said and done one team from each community rises to the occasion and is chosen as the "winner." Each team is judged on not only the details and content of their report, but also the presentation skills they used before the board of directors.

2011 Winning Bank Simulation Team
(from left to right)
Erin Buss, Community Bank and Trust of Florida, Ocala
Jeff Codallo, Community Bank of Florida, Homestead
Michael Pelletier, Raymond James Bank, FSB, St. Petersburg
Angel Gonzalez, CenterState Banks, Inc., Lakeland
Aleshia Terry, Lafayette State Bank, Branford

Each year, the FBA Florida School of Banking presents an Honor Graduate Award to a graduating senior who has been singled out by the directors and staff as the outstanding class graduate. Criteria for the selection of the Honor Graduate includes: scholastic achievement during the three-year course of study, contribution to and participation in class, and overall personal contribution within the student body. The selection is made from the top 10 percent of senior students according to grades. The name of the honor graduate is announced at the graduation on Friday evening, and a plaque is awarded at the next FBA annual meeting.

2011 Florida School of Banking Honor Graduate
Michael Pelletier
Vice President/Credit Risk Officer, Raymond James Bank, FSB, St. Petersburg

Each year the freshman class selects officers to represent them
for the next two years, and take the lead on class activities.

2011 Senior Class Officers
Annette Lowe, Class President, Prosperity Bank, Panama City
Jose Camilo, Class Vice President, First Nat'l Bank of Wauchula, Wauchula
Jana Carlisle, Class Secretary, Perkins State Bank, Williston
Brian Barroso, Class Treasurer, First State Bank of the FL Keys, Key West

After three years of studying, attending class, and submitting home study problems, the hard work pays off and graduation is right around the corner. These graduates below would tell you that it was a long grueling three years but very much worth the effort. Many friendships were begun and strengthened, skills gained, and they walked away with a greater knowledge of their industry.

2011 FSB Graduating Class

None of the activities above would be possible without the expertise and guidance of a professional team of bankers behind the effort. The Florida Bankers Association in general, and the The Florida School of Banking in particular, are very fortunate to have the assistance of the board of directors pictured below.

2010-2011 Florida School of Banking Board of Directors
(from left to right)
Jack Barrett, President & CEO, First Citrus Bank, Tampa
Luis de la Aguilera, President & CMO, TotalBank, Miami
Bruce Naylor, President & CEO, Columbia Bank, Lake City
Dana Kilborne, CEO, Florida Bank of Commerce, Melbourne(not in picture)

The 2012 session will be held on August 5-11th, at the J. Wayne Reitz Student Union on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. For additional information and registration forms on the Florida School of Banking, please e-mail Angela Foster at the FBA Education Department or contact her by telephone at (850) 224-2265.

We are pleased to announce that the Florida Banker’s Association and the College of Technology & Management at St. Petersburg College have agreed that graduates from the Florida School of Banking are eligible to receive six credits towards the College’s accredited baccalaureate degree in Banking. Click here for much more information on this partnership.