Growing up on a farm near Arlington, Krista Prinz was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA. When it came time to choose a college major, the ag banking and finance option of the agribusiness major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) was a natural fit. The major includes both traditional finance classes and courses with an emphasis on agriculture. Students in the program are eligible to receive a scholarship and complete an internship at a Nebraska bank. The program is a partnership of the NBA and UNL and is designed to fill the need for ag bankers in Nebraska.

Prinz, currently the president of Citizens State Bank in Wisner, has worked in banking since completing her internship through the program in 2008. She credits her internship and the program’s curriculum with providing a solid banking foundation. Prinz has helped provide opportunities for future ag bankers by mentoring program interns at her bank. Banks are also able to reap a variety of benefits from the program.