Author: Staci Medenwaldt, Vice President Human Resources Officer

Building the foundation

The teller role builds essential skills like cash handling, customer service, and problem solving. Tellers have a good understanding of bank products and services and are able to develop interpersonal skills with customers/community members daily.

Coming from a family of bankers myself, I’ve seen firsthand the career potential that banking can offer. That early exposure gave me a real appreciation for the many paths available in this field, from customer service to leadership.

Banking offers diverse career paths including:

• Lending and Loan Processing: Helping customers through life-changing purchases.
• Compliance and Risk: Ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Wealth Management: Guiding customers in managing finances and planning for the future.
• Information Technology: Managing and securing core banking systems and staying up to date with technology to improve efficiency and enhance customer experiences.
• Operations: Overseeing day-to-day banking activities, ensuring smooth service delivery.
• Finance: Analyzing data, budgets, and investments to support the banks profitability/growth.
• Human Resources: Recruiting, development, retention, and promoting a positive culture.

…and so much more!

Career development and community partnerships

After recent challenges like the pandemic and the Great Resignation, organizations are putting more emphasis on key retention strategies, like internal development, to foster talent and enhance employee satisfaction These events brought to light just how important it is to have adaptable policies and flexible operations, along with a workforce that feels supported and ready to take on whatever comes next.

To support and encourage our employee growth at all stages, we’ve introduced different teller levels to help employees build on their skills and prepare them for other roles. This structured development path offers experience and readiness for advancement in the bank even if it’s within the same role. Our employee’s average tenure is nearly nine years, and we’re proud that many have progressed from teller roles to leadership positions today, illustrating our commitment to development.

Key community partnerships are also pivotal in shaping different development opportunities for employees. PremierBank is actively involved with the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) and has had many employees attend the Graduate School of Banking (GSB) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to grow their skills. Additionally, we actively hire several UW-Whitewater students every year who are pursuing degrees related to our business. Providing this experience while also allowing them to learn about other departments through job shadowing has allowed several employees to continue with us after graduation.

These partnerships support employees’ skill-building and open doors to leadership roles within the bank.

Growth potential

At PremierBank, we are committed to fostering growth at any level. With our training and mentorship programs, we believe the opportunities are endless. Having a company culture that centers around employee growth and development is key to building a motivated resilient workforce that can drive innovation and contribute to long-term organizational success.