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Many banks are downsizing to cut expenses, but the Alcoa Middle School Youth Bank has decided to expand its business offerings.

The Youth Bank -- which is an in-school mini branch limited to deposit-only savings accounts -- is a partnership between SunTrust Banks Inc. and Alcoa Middle School.

SunTrust officials last year established the Alcoa Middle School Youth Bank, which was the company's first in East Tennessee. Students operated the Youth Bank out of the school's office and used an office computer to compile deposit records.

SunTrust have spent an estimated $6,500 in startup costs for this year's Youth Bank, said Vice President of Community Development Angela Conner. The company also donated teller drawers, coin lockers and a desktop computer to Alcoa Middle School, she said.

Alcoa Middle School's youth bank was successful last year, Conner said. Students deposited $2,700 in the Youth Bank, and SunTrust paid back $315 in incentives to students, she said.

Current eighth-graders were encouraged by last year's student employees to participate in the program, and 24 eighth-graders submitted applications for the in-school banking program. Students completed several short essays and were required to have good grades, Tate said.

Three teachers later selected the Youth Bank's nine employees. Students got to tour a SunTrust branch and visited the bank's departments to learn about employee responsibilities. Bank officials also took students out to lunch.