In 2022, Goodwill of Colorado trained over 35 community members for banking positions across the front range. BankWork$, a job training program offered in partnership with CareerWork$ and introduced in 2016, is an eight-week course that prepares students for entry-level bank roles — including Teller, Banker, Relationship Manager, Customer Call Center Representative and Loan Administrator. Following graduation, BankWork$ staff works with students on job placement opportunities. Historically, 82% of students gain employment after completing the program. Now available in 10 states across the country, Goodwill of Colorado initially launched BankWork$ in Denver and Aurora but expanded to Colorado Springs this past July.
Goodwill of Colorado is proud to manage a variety of community programs across the state focused on our mission to help individuals achieve greater independence and our overarching vision to ensure every Coloradan has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The communities we serve are better, stronger and more sustainable because of Goodwill’s diverse, strategic and targeted programs and services. Goodwill chose to invest in bank training services because of the good wages, benefits, steady hours and opportunities for growth available to workers in this industry. CareerWork$ is a national workforce development organization that facilitates free training for under-resourced communities to help individuals achieve lasting careers and economic stability; they also provide extensive curriculum materials ensuring all BankWork$ graduates receive consistent, high-quality training.
The BankWork$ curriculum is divided into four modules: Professionalism, Banking 101, Deepening the Customer Relationship and Employment Preparation. Classes run three days a week in five-hour sessions and are taught by BankWork$ Program Manager/Instructor Kelly Hargrove and Bankwork$ Instructor Patrick Becker. Both Hargrove and Becker have established careers in banking and infuse real-life experiences into the course curriculum. “Applying my five years of industry experience in the classroom is one of my favorite aspects of teaching,” said Becker. “Sharing real-world information, best practices and lessons learned with students based on my personal experiences is both enlightening and gratifying.”
Upon completing the BankWork$ course, students attend a graduation ceremony where they receive their Colorado Bankers Associate certification and actively participate in a job fair with hiring managers and recruiters from partner banks. Goodwill has developed a Bank Advisory Council for the BankWork$ program consisting of representatives from 14 banks across the state who attend the graduation job fair, participate in “Banker Day” to share information about their companies and assist with mock employment interviews.
“Patrick [Becker] and I work closely with the Bank Advisory Council to ensure the presence of hiring managers at the job fair and their participation in exit surveys providing valuable feedback about our students,” said Hargrove. “Many of our students receive job offers the same day, and some even have banks competing for employment.”
Banking institutions wanting to join the Bank Advisory Council are encouraged to contact Hargrove at khargrove@goodwillcolorado.org. The next two BankWork$ cohorts offered in Denver and Aurora will begin in September 2022. Individuals who want to learn more about this program and begin the application process also can contact Hargrove. Prospective students will be assessed for basic eligibility and aptitudes and scheduled for attendance if qualified.
