LADD - North Central Bank and the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking announces its Annual Scholarship Program which enables Illinois high-school seniors to enter a statewide essay-writing contest. It is all part of a program sponsored by Illinois community banks and the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking to increase public awareness of locally owned banks and their contributions to the community.

North Central Bank is a member of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI), which formed the Foundation in 1996. A monetary award of $1,000 a year for up to four years of higher education will be given to the author of the best entry submitted to the CBAI Foundation by a participating Illinois high-school senior. Up to 11 additional first-place $1,000 awards and 12 second-place $500 awards are available throughout the state. An additional $500 will be awarded to the high school of the overall winner. All high-school seniors, regardless of their financial need or plans for higher education, may participate. North Central Bank in Ladd and Hennepin are participating locations.

North Central Bank will also offer monetary awards to local students. The same entries sent to the state competition will be judged locally.

North Central Bank is working with local high schools to invite seniors to write a one- page essay on the following theme: “Why is a trusted partner such as a community bank so valuable to have during a pandemic?”

Additional information on the contest is available at North Central Bank (Hennepin and Ladd) and at local high schools. Contact Kim McKee at North Central Bank for additional details at (815) 894-2386 or kmckee@northcentralbank.com or www.northcentralbank.com.

Entries must be submitted to the bank by Feb. 19, 2021. The bank will then submit selected entries to the CBAI Foundation to be eligible for statewide competition.