PA Secretary of Banking and Securities Hails Bloomsburg University Participation in National Banking Study Competition

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PA Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann today praised students at Bloomsburg University for being the first to represent Pennsylvania in the national Community Bank Case Study Competition.

The Community Bank Case Study Competition, sponsored by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), is a nationwide team competition for undergraduate college students with an interest in banking and finance. Under the guidance of Professor Victoria Geyfman, two teams of Bloomsburg students will partner with First Columbia Bank & Trust Company and Mid Penn Bank to conduct original case studies to assess the impact of the banks' small business lending efforts.

"Community banks are vital to our commonwealth's financial and economic health," said Wiessmann. "Emerging research on these banks helps Pennsylvania's financial and economic development efforts, builds a further understanding of the community banking business model, and stresses the role community banks play in the communities they serve. Congratulations to Professor Geyfman, her students, our two state-chartered banks, and Bloomsburg University for rising to meet this challenge."

The student teams are competing for a chance to win a scholarship and an opportunity to attend the fourth annual CSBS-Federal Reserve Community Banking in the 21st Century Research and Policy Conference in St. Louis, Mo. Competition finalists will have their case studies published during the conference.

Thirty-three teams from 17 states have entered this year's competition. Student teams will submit case studies by May 2, 2016. The winning team will be announced in late May 2016.

For more information on the 2016 Community Bank Case Study Competition, visit www.csbs.org/bankcasestudy. Consumers are reminded that if they have questions about banks, bank products, or bank transactions they can call 1-800-PA-BANKS to discuss their issues with a trained professional.

Media contact: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities