Building bright futures through financial education at Wyandotte High School.

At Commerce Bank, we’re committed to the role we play in serving our communities. When Jackie Loya-Torres was asked by a friend at the Kansas City, Kansas Public School District if Commerce would be interested in teaching financial education to local students, she didn’t hesitate. “Of course we were interested in getting involved in some way,” she says.

That response launched a collaboration between Commerce Bank and Wyandotte High School that has opened new doors for students while strengthening community connections. During the 2024-25 school year, Commerce team members worked directly with five classes at the historic Kansas City school, sharing real-world financial knowledge with sophomores, juniors and seniors.

A personal connection to community.

For Loya-Torres, a community development manager at Commerce Bank, building a program for Wyandotte students felt natural. “I personally do a lot of work in Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, Kansas,” she says. “Part of my family hails from that area, and I serve on the board of an organization that's focused on affordable housing in that neighborhood.”

The collaboration began when Commerce connected with administrators whose role is to help prepare students for life after high school. After initial conversations in late 2024, the program launched early in 2025, with Commerce team members collaborating with business and finance teachers to deliver practical financial education.

More than just banking basics.

The program went beyond traditional financial literacy lessons. The school district wanted students to tackle real-world business challenges, using their classroom knowledge to develop creative solutions. Commerce presented students with a compelling problem: how can traditional banks better connect with younger customers in an age of digital payment apps?

“We talked about how many young people use payment apps and how a traditional bank can complement those kinds of services in ways that are very beneficial,” Loya-Torres said. “From there it evolved a bit, and we talked about how traditional banks can vie for young people's attention today, both as potential customers and potential employees.”

The discussions revealed surprising gaps in students’ banking knowledge. “We talked a lot about which banks are in their neighborhood and if they had ever been in one of them,” Loya-Torres says. “A lot of the young people in the classes weren’t familiar with us or with banking in general.”

These conversations sparked deeper discussions about family experiences and community needs. “The students talked about the banking experiences their parents and grandparents have had, and it was interesting to hear their perspective,” Loya-Torres says. “We talked a lot about the need for services to be provided in a way that would address the needs of the people in the community, and that trust always has to be earned, never just given.”

Practical skills for real life.

The curriculum covered essential financial topics that students would need as they transitioned to adulthood. Commerce team members discussed basic checking accounts, debit cards, the importance of establishing credit, financing college, purchasing a first car and setting up direct deposit for paychecks.

“The semester culminated with the students working in small groups to pitch their solutions for the issues we had discussed,” Loya-Torres says.

“They had some really great and creative ideas.”

Opening career pathways.

Beyond financial education, the program introduced students to potential career opportunities in banking. “Some of the students said they were interested in potentially going into banking in their future,” Loya-Torres observes. “For a lot of the kids we were teaching, going to college isn’t always economically feasible, so they were intrigued by the fact that a four-year degree isn’t required for some roles in the banking industry, and they offer a strong career path with lots of potential for upward mobility.”

Patrice Brewer, a business teacher at Wyandotte High School, emphasized the importance of building connections with organizations like Commerce. “Financial literacy is a life skill that impacts nearly every personal and professional decision students will make as adults,” she says.

“When organizations like Commerce invest in student financial literacy, they are helping to create a generation of people who are financially savvy and able to intentionally contribute to their local economy.”

"This partnership built trust between young people and financial institutions, which is impactful. Commerce Bank demonstrated their commitment to our local community as well as the students by partnering with the students in my classroom.”

Looking forward.

The positive response from both students and teachers has Commerce Bank eager to continue the relationship. “We’ve learned a lot along the way, and we’re hoping to be able to implement some of those changes in the future,” Loya-Torres says. “The teachers we worked with have said they would love to have us continue working with their students again.” For Loya-Torres, the experience reinforced Commerce Bank’s commitment to community engagement. “I really enjoyed the experience,” she says. “The teachers were great, and this is one of the oldest high schools in Kansas City, with some famous alums who graduated from there. It was really fulfilling to interact with students and help prepare them for their futures in a place with that much history.”