Harrow tops in bank contest

The initiative, which started last year, aims to improve the financial capability of children in the Kingdom. It has now produced the 2011 champion, Harrow International School.

Harrow International – represented by Varot Senapitak, Kamonporn Wongrukmit, Sasathorn Eimsiri and Klatliat Thiravorachai – was the outright winner. Each member of the winning team received a Bangkok Bank Be1st Debit card and a Bangkok Bank savings account with a balance of Bt5,000 each, a gold medal and a trophy for the school. 

The winning students said: “The JA Banks in Action Programme has been a once in a lifetime experience for learning about bank operations. Our knowledge about financial instruments such as savings rates and loan rates, bank products and enterprise strategies will help us in the business world and in university and beyond.”

Triam Udom Suksa School won second place. Each of its students received a Be1st Debit card and a savings account with a balance of Bt3,000.

Bronze medals went to Ekamai International School. Each student received a Be1st Debit card and a savings account with a balance of Bt1,000. 

Late last month, 36 students from nine Bangkok schools went to Bangkok Bank’s Training Centre for the first-ever JA Banks in Action competition in Asia. These finalists were selected from 300 students from 10 schools. The students formed teams and were given the “Bangkok Bank financial conundrum” with challenges such as developing new products, marketing financial products and building brand loyalty. The answers and presentations included two off-the-cuff ideas - the “E Shopper Card” and the “EDU Account”. This was followed by “The Bank of Choice” computer simulation game - students managed a simulated bank for a series of quarters and competed to make the most profit by tweaking interest rates and marketing budgets.

The programme will restart in June 2012 with a search for the 2012 Champion Banker of the Year. 

Further information, [email protected] or www.jathailand.org.