Annual School Session

July 14-26, 2024 | University of Colorado | Boulder, CO

America's Premier Community Banking School

Hosted each July at the University of Colorado Boulder, this 25-month graduate school of banking delivers a relevant and challenging curriculum that deepens students' understanding of community banking.


Overview

In the Annual School Session, students take courses that are designed and regularly updated to tackle relevant topics in the community banking industry. Students attend three consecutive annual two-week sessions at CU Boulder, and have numerous opportunities to network with bankers from their states and across the country.

GSBC Students

  • Are recognized by bank management as rising stars in their organizations
  • Engage in an all-encompassing curriculum that broadens industry knowledge
  • Learn strategies to become effective leaders in their organizations
  • Apply their knowledge and education through coursework and intersession research projects to create tangible, positive and long-term impacts on their organizations
  • Engage among timely and relevant issues facing the banking industry today, providing them with tools and information to tackle these challenges and help lead their organizations
  • Become life-long community bank leaders upon completion of GSBC

Life as a GSBC student


Curriculum

Educate: Course Overviews

GSBC’s curriculum transforms community bankers into community bank leaders by:

  • Providing the essentials from which a solid education is built
  • Building leaders who make differences in their banks and communities
  • Fostering readiness by providing the tools to think critically and act innovatively

Course Descriptions

Innovate: Intersession Projects

Intersession research projects and evening presentations focus on current issues affecting community banks and provide students with takeaways that can be immediately implemented to enhance organizational performance. Students complete six intersession projects total—three after year one and three after year two.

Projects Overview

Connect: Peer Group Program

GSBC has a robust peer group program for all first-year and second-year direct students to facilitate relationship building and familiarity with the Annual School Session. Peer groups are assigned pre-session, providing a group of friends and colleagues before participants arrive in Boulder.


Admission & Fees

Do you have a Bachelor’s degree (or similar experience)? Have you worked at least three years in the banking industry or a closely-related field? These are just some of the qualifications our applicants must meet to be admitted to GSBC.

See what it takes to apply, including applicable tuition and fees for each year of attendance.

Application Information

Facilities & Accommodations

Our school partners with the University of Colorado Boulder to offer students access to state-of-the-art classrooms. This partnership also provides GSBC students with access to other campus facilities like the recently revamped residence halls, apartments and dining facilities—all within walking distance of academic classrooms and Boulder’s renowned hiking trails.

Facilities

Flexibility

Second Year Direct

Incoming students with significant banking education already under their belts may be admitted as second year students. See the full list of qualifications and qualifying state association banking schools.

Second year direct admittance is limited based on class size; enrollment is subject to availability.

Enrollment Options

MBA/MS Finance Credit

Following completion of GSBC course work, students may be able to qualify for MBA or MS Finance credit at partnering universities, including:

  • Union College (Kentucky), MBA Credit
  • University of Colorado Denver, MBA and MS Finance Credit
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst, MBA Credit
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln, MBA Credit
  • University of South Carolina, Professional MBA Credit

MBA Partnerships

Continuing Professional Education

Students can also count their work at GSBC toward Continuing Professional Education. GSBC is registered with the NASBA as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses.

More CPE Info

Scholarships

Three scholarships are available through the GSBC Alumni Association and our co-sponsoring state banking associations.

  • Alumni Association Scholarship
  • Intermediate Banking School Scholarship
  • Bolder Banking Scholarship

Scholarship Programs

Faculty

Our faculty members are nationally recognized bankers, consultants and academics who are leading experts in their fields. They bring real-life examples, case studies and unique models of technical instruction to facilitate a lively and open learning environment.

Shane Anderson

Lexington, KY

Andy Anderson

Rolling Fork, MS

Jennifer Bone

Boulder, CO

Keith Bowles

Bentonville, AR

Chris Carlson

Bellevue, WA
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Blake Crow

Des Moines, IA

Rebecca Diaz

Pueblo, CO

Tiffany Erb

Dallas, TX
Jonathan Finley

Jonathan Finley

Baton Rouge, LA

Steven Gonzalo

Ottawa, IL

Alison Gould

New York, NY

Roger Guerin

Sanford, ME

Tory Haggerty

Sioux Falls, SD

Richard Hamm

Huntsville, AL

Perry Haralson

Lincoln, NE
David Heneke

David Heneke

Waite Park, MN

Michelle Hodge

Industry, TX
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

Nevada, IA
Kelly Jordan

Kelly Jordan

Quinton, OK

Suzi Kalsow

Spirit Lake, IA
Brent Klanderud

Brent Klanderud

Kansas City Region

David Linaburg

Farmers Branch, TX

Jim LoPresti

Denver, CO

Wayne Miller

Washington D.C.

Matt Miller

Gladstone, NJ
Jason Mork

Jason Mork

Milwaukee, WI

Cathy Morrissey

Lincoln, NE

Zach Neuman

Minneapolis, MN
Dave Nowling

David Nowling

Aurora, CO

Lance Nunn

Newport, OR

Tim Ohlde

Clyde, KS

Brad Olson

Marriottsville, MD
David Peterson

David Peterson

Valdosta, GA

Jeff Phillips

Prairie Village, KS

Charles E. Potts

Washington D.C.

Doris Rigoni

Denver, CO

Ellen Sharp

Lexington, KY

Thomas Siems, Ph.D.

Washington, DC

Wendy Skorburg

Plano, Texas

Cassie Solomon

Philadelphia, PA

Michael Stevens

Westminster, CO

Kyle Thomas

Washington D.C.

Rachael Thompson

Denver, CO

Greyson Tuck

Memphis, TN

Larry Young

Sioux Falls, SD
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What People Are Saying

The peer group program was an outstanding success in my experience at GSBC. Through my three summers I have made some great networking contacts that I have already used, but the peer group connections turned out to be not just great colleagues but wonderful friends. The GSBC experience is all about learning and pushing you in directions you never thought you would go.

I recommend attending GSBC to anyone seeking a transformative and enriching educational experience. The collaborative atmosphere fosters invaluable networking opportunities, connecting me with industry peers and thought leaders. GSBC's emphasis on professional growth and leadership development combined with its picturesque campus, makes it an unrivaled destination for those committed to advancing their careers in banking.

I couldn’t have hoped for a better banking school experience than at GSBC. The opportunity to work through real world examples in class, network and participate in a holistic banking education that covered technology, leadership skills, loans, deposits, finances and more - all with a community-bank focus - gave me the boost I needed for my own professional growth.

Neil Rutter
Neil Rutter
Annual School Session
Class of 2023
Clint Duncan
Clint Duncan
Annual School Session
Class of 2023
Brittany Welch
Brittany Welch
Annual School Session
Class of 2022
Refer Student

Start the Conversation About GSBC

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Why GSBC

Why GSBC

Are you curious about what life is like at GSBC? Explore the on-campus amenities and networking opportunities, as well as a typical student schedule.

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