CLAY COUNTY – VyStar Credit Union is excited to celebrate the second year of its High School Debit Card Give Back Program and announce an overall donation of $31,568 to the 18 area high schools, including four from Clay County, that participated in the VyStar Academy of Business High School Branch Program.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to all who have joined us in our mission to uplift students and educators in our communities and contributed to the tremendous success of the school-branded debit card give-back program in its second year,” said VyStar EVP/Chief Operations Officer Chad Meadows. “The program provides members with an opportunity to show their support for their neighborhood school and make a difference in their community by making purchases using their high school co-branded debit card. This initiative allows for everyone to be proud of their local schools and effect change through everyday transactions.”

The four local schools in the program are Clay, Fleming Island, Middleburg and Orange Park. Fleming Island ($3,575.30) and Middleburg ($2,269.60) were among the top six earners.

VyStar’s High School Debit Card Give Back Program was launched in 2022 to unite the community in support of local education. Each high school in VyStar’s High School Branch Program has a unique debit card branded with its school logo and available to anyone with a VyStar personal checking account. VyStar donates five cents to the corresponding school for every purchase made with that school’s debit card. Donations will be up to $10,000 a year for each school.

 “We continue to take immense pride in our VyStar High School Branch Program schools, and we’re thrilled by the widespread adoption of these debit cards,” said Michael Rathjen, VyStar’s Vice President of School Programs. “The funds from the program have directly benefited students and teachers across the area. As we enter the third year of our debit card give back program, we encourage members to help us raise additional funds for the students by using a high school co-branded debit card.”

VyStar launched the High School Branch Program in 2006 to provide work-site experience and paid internship opportunities to students across its communities. The program enables students to experience the inner workings of key financial services. The day-to-day operations of the high school branches are managed by a team of students under the co-supervision of the school’s career and technical education teacher and VyStar personnel. Since launching the program, VyStar has provided 2,004 paid internships, hired 88 student graduates full-time, and delivered financial education training to more than 130,000 high school students.