DURHAM, N.C. — The Hillside Hornet Bank at Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina is the only known functioning school bank in the state. 

“We made history because we are the only bank within a high school. There are several of the schools that have credit unions, but an actual bank, they do not," said Priscilla Davis, who serves as the coordinator of the business finance academy at Hillside. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Hillside High School in Durham is the only known school in North Carolina with a functioning bank

  •  Students run the bank

  •  It is monitored at all times by a security guard

  • A recent TikTok video has drawn national attention to the school bank

Davis pitched the idea a decade ago, partnering with Woodforest National Bank. The Woodforest team donated everything the school needed to get the bank fully functioning. 

A recent TikTok video about the bank from a North Carolina business, Springbreak Watches, went viral. 

"We've had, you know, just other businesses that have reached out and schools that have started to reach out and ask us about how they can get a bank in their school. So it's been excellent," Davis said. 

Students, parents and faculty are allowed to use the bank. It is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the school year. The other days are in the classroom, where students learn about budgeting and other financial information.

In the spring, students learn how to do their taxes.