Each summer, Lake City Bank welcomes a new class of interns who contribute across the organization. More than seasonal help, these students represent the next generation of professionals and potential leaders.

The Internship Program is intentionally reciprocal. Interns gain real-world experience and build their professional networks, while the bank benefits from their curiosity, insights, and fresh perspectives.

“We’ve found that our internship program is valuable for the bank and for our students,” said David Findlay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We learn a great deal from each class, while our interns gain valuable work experience.”

The Summer 2025 intern class works in 16 areas of the bank, including all of the bank’s lines of business, Internal Audit, and Systems Administration. In addition to their assigned position, interns may shadow bank employees in other departments that interest them. Emily Goon, an Internal Audit Intern and a senior at Purdue University, returned to the bank for her second summer.

“This program is a great way to determine what you like about working in a specific area,” Goon said. “I was able to job shadow in another department I’m interested in, which was valuable as I consider my focus after college.”

The 2025 class is the bank’s largest, with 26 interns. Over time, the program has expanded significantly in both size and scope, reflecting the bank’s ongoing commitment to developing future talent. Programming has expanded as well. Interns now begin with a full-day orientation that includes a tour of the bank’s downtown Warsaw campus, systems setup, and sessions on information security and bank policies. Interns spend time with senior management, meeting with the bank’s Management Committee for introductions and lunch. Committee members not only welcome the interns but encourage open dialogue throughout the summer, reinforcing the bank’s culture of mentorship and accessibility.

Lake City Bank also sees the internship program as a strategic investment. With many interns returning for another summer or transitioning into full-time roles, the program helps build a strong pipeline of talent. The 2025 class includes 11 returning interns.

“The Internship Program has our highest success rate from a recruiting perspective,” said Kyra Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “Over the last two years, we’ve hired about 25 percent of our interns into full-time roles after graduation. I think that reflects well on the bank and our interns.”

Interns take on real responsibilities, contribute to projects, and step in where help is needed. Their experiences are not only formative—they’re impactful.

“I appreciate that I was challenged by my coworkers and managers with additional opportunities to learn and grow,” said Caitlyn Patrick, 2024 Retail Banker Intern. “The challenges make subsequent summer opportunities more worthwhile too.”

By supporting young professionals through meaningful, hands-on work, Lake City Bank is not only shaping future careers—it’s strengthening its own workforce and the communities it serves.