Melissa Siv: Helping students boost their financial literacy

This is one of 12 finalists for The Herald Business Journal’s annual Emerging Leaders awards for 2022. The winner will be named at an event on April 13.

Melissa Siv, 36

Vice president and district branch manager, Peoples Bank

Melissa Siv is the vice president and district branch manager at Peoples Bank Everett Financial Center in downtown Everett.

In her off hours, she teaches financial literacy to high school students in the Everett area.

The sessions covers everything from credit card applications to debt management.

“I’ve come across many young adults and teens who don’t know the basics of managing personal finances,” Siv said. “There is a lot of value in having professional business and community members take the time to volunteer at schools to teach them about managing one’s finances.”

Siv is a returning Emerging Leader candidate who made the Top 12 list last year, too.

At first, the thought of teaching a group of “worldly wise” teenagers had her “totally freaked out.”

As it turned out, there was no cause for concern.

It’s been “a great experience,” Siv said. Students want to learn and ask engaging questions.

The experience proved so rewarding, she volunteered to teach more financial literacy programs to Everett Public Schools students.

But expanding the program required more volunteers.

In the space of two weeks, Siv rallied a half dozen of her co-workers.

Siv is a founding member of the Kiwanis Club of Mill Creek and its treasurer.

An Emerging Leaders nominator said: “She is more than just a financial professional, she is also a great communicator and leader and has taken the leadership role in numerous club projects and led them all to a successful conclusion.”

Siv volunteers for the Imagine Children’s Museum. She serves on the Everett Public Schools Business and Professional Services Program Advisory Committee and the Mill Creek Business Association and Bothell Kenmore Chamber of Commerce.

Siv grew up in Brier and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2009. While still a student, she was hired by Peoples Bank part time.

“If you told me then that I would continue to work up the ladder in retail banking for the next 15 years, I would have probably laughed,” Siv said. “I came to Peoples Bank because I was looking for something more professional than my job at Old Navy folding denim.”

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.