CNB Participates in Independoplis

Enid, Oklahoma May 31, 2012—Aging out of the foster care system can be a frightening and daunting task, especially if the life skills necessary for independent living have not been developed. That includes opening a checking or savings account and being able to balance a check register. Recognizing how difficult it is to navigate life without this valuable information, Central National Bank participated at the state-wide life skills simulation, Independoplis, to help area youth more easily transition into adulthood. CNB’s focus was educating attendees on identity theft and protecting yourself against fraud.

The event, held at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in Enid, is an initiative of the University of Oklahoma Outreach National Resource Center for Youth Services. Their mission is “Enhancing the quality of life of our nation’s youth and their families by improving the effectiveness of human services.”

Independopolis is a life skills simulation for youth, ages 16-18, in OKDHS foster care. It is designed as a practice event in which youth show up with their personal independent living plan and work towards independence. In the afternoon, participants played a game of Resource Fair Bingo, where they visited community resource exhibits and completed challenges. They goal of Independopolis is to provide opportunities for new life skill experiences and create new connections with community resources that youth may not otherwise have until they’re on their own.

Independoplois was conducted in five locations across Oklahoma. The Enid event incorporated all of the Seven Key Elements of the curriculum into an interactive, hands-on simulation. The key elements included: essential documents, education, employment, health, housing, life skills, and permanent connections. Youth were able to complete applications for checking accounts, apply to higher education, interview for jobs, fill out a rental application, and secure housing.

“This has been an extraordinary experience,” said Mickie Giberson, AVP of Compliance at CNB. “The team from OU Outreach has done a terrific job of pulling together resources to serve the foster youth that are attending. As part of our Make a Difference Initiative, the CNB employees who participated really showed their passion for service to the community. I’m very proud to be part of this company.”

About Central National Bank

Chartered in 1913, CNB has served Oklahoma for nearly 100 years. A full-service FDIC-insured financial institution with over $560 million in assets, CNB offers traditional banking products such as checking and savings accounts, Time Deposits and loan products including HUD MAP lending, agricultural, transportation and heavy equipment lending. CNB also issues and processes prepaid cards for universities, employers and program managers. Central National Bank has branches in Enid, Blackwell, Bartlesville, Mooreland, Woodward and Tulsa. For more information please visit the bank’s website at www.cnb-ok.com.