Bank Independent continued an important community educational partnership that began back in 2018.

Around 6 years ago, the Shoals community and the University of North Alabama (UNA) began the process of generating interest, ideas, and revenue for a state-of-the-art football stadium. Since the rebirth of their football program back in 1949, the University of North Alabama Lions have played in Braly Stadium, a 14,215-seating venue shared with local Florence High School Falcons.

However, earlier this summer the UNA Board of Trustees announced a new stadium named in honor of their primary sponsor: Bank Independent Stadium.

Now, this same partnership that paved the way for the stadium will also make scholarship opportunities available for Bank Independent team members and team member families.

“Bank Independent has always been committed to our team members’ growth and development,” said Penny Camp, Chief People Officer at Bank Independent. “Our team members are our greatest asset, and investing in their professional growth and the education of their families demonstrates the value we place on their long-term development and opportunities.

Our founders left us a significant legacy, and we believe investing in our team members’ education is a way to not only support them personally but to honor that legacy,” Camp said. “We take our responsibility to our team members, our customers, and our communities seriously. Not only do we want to be the bank of choice for customers, but we also strive to be the employer of choice in the communities we serve.”

Bank Independent team members and their immediate family members are able to use the scholarship benefit immediately for any one of UNA’s dozens of undergraduate programs; the scholarship also applies to graduate and doctoral programs at UNA.

“The partnership is a win for UNA and Bank Independent,” said Dr. Katie Kinney, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “As Alabama’s Workforce Development University, UNA prides itself on our ability to educate learners of all ages and in programs that help them prepare for future careers or advance current careers. This is an excellent opportunity for Bank Independent team members and their dependents to start, finish, or pursue new academic pathways.”

Many Bank Independent employees are UNA graduates or are currently enrolled in an academic program, including the 2023 Alumni of the Year.

“This speaks to the caliber of talent and work ethic fostered by the University,” said Rick Wardlaw, Bank Independent CEO. “UNA has already equipped many of our team members with the skills, knowledge, and experience to excel in their careers, and this scholarship will allow more of them, and their dependents, access to higher education. We appreciate UNA’s commitment to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for professional success. The University is ingrained in both our company culture and the fabric of our local communities. We look forward to continuing our relationship with UNA for years to come as a source of talent and as an important partner.”

To learn more about Bank Independent scholarship opportunities for team members and their families, please visit www.una.edu/admissions.