From a young age, Shamim Okolloh’s son Liam dreamed of becoming an author, a passion sparked when he devoured the Harry Potter series at just eight years old. So when his younger sister, Ella, confidently told her first-grade teacher she wanted to be a commercial banker, it planted the seed for something special.
“I’ve visited classrooms for community outreach and noticed that when you ask children what they want to be, you hear doctor, lawyer, or YouTuber,” Shamim explained. “You rarely hear ‘banker’ because banking isn’t part of their everyday narrative.” Inspired by Ella’s unusual ambition and Liam’s love for storytelling, she decided to bring both dreams together in a children’s book.
In 2024, Shamim and Liam co-wrote Ella the Banker, fulfilling Liam’s goal of becoming a published author while he was still in fifth grade. The colorful picture book follows the fictional Ella, who takes a second-grade field trip to a bank and learns about the wide range of careers available there. Captivated by the idea of helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, she sets her sights on becoming a commercial banker.
To manage the book’s proceeds, Shamim opened an account at the U.S. Bank branch in Geyer Springs, Little Rock, Arkansas. Over time, she and her children formed a close relationship with the branch team.
“They’ve become like family,” said branch manager Ramone Davis. “It’s inspiring to see a single mother of two bring her vision to life and her son become a published author at only 10. Women—especially women of color—are underrepresented in banking, and even more so in commercial banking.”
The project soon attracted wider attention. Economics Arkansas, a nonprofit focused on financial education, developed a classroom curriculum to accompany the book. With the help of business access advisor Cassandra Kidd, U.S. Bank contributed $2,500 to distribute copies to nearly 600 schools across the state.
“Ella the Banker has helped educate students in Arkansas and beyond,” said Kristen Polchinski, U.S. Bank’s community affairs manager for the Missouri/Arkansas Market. “It’s a perfect example of how our Community Possible program blends philanthropy with active engagement to create lasting change.”
What began as a single book is now a family-led business dedicated to providing financial literacy resources for young readers. The Okolloh family has shared Ella the Banker at events nationwide, including the American Bankers Association Bank Marketing Conference in Chicago, Financial Women in Texas, and local initiatives like the Little Rock Police Department’s Summer Youth Camp. In recognition of their work, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. declared January 9, 2024, “Ella the Banker Day.”
The book was also featured on the cover of Arkansas Next Money magazine, with over 50,000 copies distributed to high schools statewide. So far, more than 2,000 copies have been sold through major retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble, as well as local bookstores in Little Rock.
“The best word for Shamim is ‘intentional,’” Kidd noted. “The story is so inclusive that every child can see themselves in it. My two-year-old grandson is captivated by the joyful, vibrant illustrations.”
Earlier this year, Shamim and Liam released a sequel, Ella the Banker: Let Us Save, focusing on the importance of saving money. Inspired by real-life family conversations and school experiences, the book is also available in Spanish. U.S. Bank sponsored the launch event, where families received free copies, face painting, and snowcones.
“The second book encourages families to visit banks together and reminds bilingual communities that many banks have Spanish-speaking staff,” Shamim said.
The sequel was written during a challenging period—just as Shamim was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. Now cancer-free after treatment, she says the journey has only strengthened her commitment to her mission.
“I’ve visited classrooms for community outreach and noticed that when you ask children what they want to be, you hear doctor, lawyer, or YouTuber,” Shamim explained. “You rarely hear ‘banker’ because banking isn’t part of their everyday narrative.” Inspired by Ella’s unusual ambition and Liam’s love for storytelling, she decided to bring both dreams together in a children’s book.
In 2024, Shamim and Liam co-wrote Ella the Banker, fulfilling Liam’s goal of becoming a published author while he was still in fifth grade. The colorful picture book follows the fictional Ella, who takes a second-grade field trip to a bank and learns about the wide range of careers available there. Captivated by the idea of helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, she sets her sights on becoming a commercial banker.
To manage the book’s proceeds, Shamim opened an account at the U.S. Bank branch in Geyer Springs, Little Rock, Arkansas. Over time, she and her children formed a close relationship with the branch team.
“They’ve become like family,” said branch manager Ramone Davis. “It’s inspiring to see a single mother of two bring her vision to life and her son become a published author at only 10. Women—especially women of color—are underrepresented in banking, and even more so in commercial banking.”
The project soon attracted wider attention. Economics Arkansas, a nonprofit focused on financial education, developed a classroom curriculum to accompany the book. With the help of business access advisor Cassandra Kidd, U.S. Bank contributed $2,500 to distribute copies to nearly 600 schools across the state.
“Ella the Banker has helped educate students in Arkansas and beyond,” said Kristen Polchinski, U.S. Bank’s community affairs manager for the Missouri/Arkansas Market. “It’s a perfect example of how our Community Possible program blends philanthropy with active engagement to create lasting change.”
What began as a single book is now a family-led business dedicated to providing financial literacy resources for young readers. The Okolloh family has shared Ella the Banker at events nationwide, including the American Bankers Association Bank Marketing Conference in Chicago, Financial Women in Texas, and local initiatives like the Little Rock Police Department’s Summer Youth Camp. In recognition of their work, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. declared January 9, 2024, “Ella the Banker Day.”
The book was also featured on the cover of Arkansas Next Money magazine, with over 50,000 copies distributed to high schools statewide. So far, more than 2,000 copies have been sold through major retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble, as well as local bookstores in Little Rock.
“The best word for Shamim is ‘intentional,’” Kidd noted. “The story is so inclusive that every child can see themselves in it. My two-year-old grandson is captivated by the joyful, vibrant illustrations.”
Earlier this year, Shamim and Liam released a sequel, Ella the Banker: Let Us Save, focusing on the importance of saving money. Inspired by real-life family conversations and school experiences, the book is also available in Spanish. U.S. Bank sponsored the launch event, where families received free copies, face painting, and snowcones.
“The second book encourages families to visit banks together and reminds bilingual communities that many banks have Spanish-speaking staff,” Shamim said.
The sequel was written during a challenging period—just as Shamim was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. Now cancer-free after treatment, she says the journey has only strengthened her commitment to her mission.