The New Tripoli Bank is typically busy on Fridays, but when the Girl Scouts bring their cookies and set up shop, it becomes a hub of even greater activity.

Troop 6122 was doing a brisk business selling their perennial favorites and chatting with customers last Friday.

Boxes of Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Trefoils, Lemonades, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and the gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chips lined a table tempting cookie lovers while three young Scouts completed transactions.

“They like them,” observed Saige Snickel explaining the cookies’ popularity, as a customer exchanged $6 for a box of thin mints. “They’re cookies and have sugar.”

This year a rocky road ice cream inspired sandwich cookie called Exploremores was added to the roster.

This cookie is “filled with delicious flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond–flavored crème,” proving Saige’s analysis to be right on the money.

By 5 p.m. the young entrepreneurs were all out of Adventurefuls, but that was good news for the Scouts.

They had plenty more varieties to sell.

The cookie sale is only one facet of being a Girl Scout.

“We meet every other Tuesday but we do a lot of fun things in between,” troop leader Alyssa Boyle said.

“I was actually a Brownie myself,” she continued. Now she’s sharing the tradition with her two daughters: Althea, a kindergartner and Clara, a second grader, both at Northwestern.

“I’m a Brownie,” said Clara Boyle proudly, “and I love eating cookies.”

The two sisters were selling cookies with their friend Saige, displaying their enthusiasm with every sale.

This enthusiasm is apparently contagious as Clara explained that even her doll is a Brownie.

“In the doll world, Brownies dress in pink,” she said solemnly, displaying her doll’s attire.

The girls were clearly excited about the scouting experience.

“It gives the kids an opportunity to make more friends while supporting the community,” Alyssa Boyle said. “Last year we raised money for an animal shelter.”

According to the Girl Scouts, “100 percent of the proceeds earned through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stay local with councils and troops as they explore more possibilities through life-changing experiences and programming offered year-round.”

Judging by the three youngsters’ enthusiasm for selling cookies, interest in Scouting remains high.

“We have 24 kids in our troop this year,” Alyssa Boyle said. “And we’re still growing.”

Tiffany Snickel had been volunteering with Scouts, but this year she became a troop co leader.

“I love it because I get to spend time with my daughter and her friends,” she said.

The bank location is a sweet spot for more than one reason.

“Our service unit arranged it with the bank, so we did get permission,” Tiffany Snickel explained.

In-person booth sales officially began on Feb. 27.

March 22 will be the last day for cookie sales.

The sale was extended due to the harsh winter weather.

Besides visiting local Girl Scouts stands, customers can order cookies using the Girl Scout Cookie Finder and entering their zip codes.