Tennessee Career Guide | 2024-2025 43 vestment, brokerage, and international bank- ing services as well as financial counseling for businesses and investors. You can be part of this challenging and fulfilling environment. Career Opportunities Commercial banks, from large entities to local institutions, offer a range of financial services, from checking and savings ac- counts to IRAs and loans. There are vari- ous job positions within bank institutions. Positions range from customer service po- sitions (bank teller) to mid-management positions (internal auditor, data processing officer) to executive-level positions (loan of- ficer, branch manager). Applicants interested in going into banking should have at least a high school diploma or a GED for entry-level positions. A college degree in accounting, finance, business, com- munications, economics, marketing, or com- puter science will assist the job applicant not only when initially hired but also when seek- ing promotions within the banking industry. Banks offer many job duties and career path options. Most banks offer excellent benefits, including medical insurance and disability insurance, sick leave and vacation, and retirement options. Banks are highly regulated and supervised financial opera- tions, making them safe, pleasant and re- warding places to work. These careers offer integrity and stability. These key positions are found in any bank’s organizational structure. Here’s a breakdown of some opportunities: Bank tellers are the first line of advertising for a bank. Tellers are responsible for basic account transactions such as servicing sav- ings and checking accounts and providing account inquiries to customers. There is usually a head teller who supervises a group of tellers and whose responsibility is to handle special inquiries or problems with a bank account. A bank marketing representative is an individual who markets banking products to customers. Products range from check- ing and savings accounts to CDs and spe- cial deposit accounts. The bank marketing representative is also responsible for un- derstanding the strategic plan for market- ing various products and implementing plans for the banks or its branches. The internal audit position is considered a mid-level management position that en- sures the bank is following compliance and regulatory laws concerning bank operations and procedures. The internal auditor is the individual responsible for creating audit pro- grams for all areas of operations. Branch managers are assigned by mid- level or executive management to oversee branch operations or a drive-through bank operation. Branch managers create branch work schedules for personnel, provide a budget to executive management concern- ing resources, and ensure that bank policies are followed at the branch level. Bank loans are a source of revenue for bank- ing institutions. A loan officer specializes in marketing loan products to customers and processes the necessary documents for a cus- tomer to obtain a loan. Loan officers exam- ine credit reports and other qualifications of individuals or businesses to receive loans. Employment Outlook Every bank's success is due in large part to the dedication and skill of its people. Work- ing in any aspect of banking can be very re- warding and fulfilling. It can also provide interesting new challenges every single day. There will always be a need for banks to hire and train talented, motivated, re- sourceful, and customer-oriented people. Your success will depend on your commit- ment to the bank, your aptitude for devel- oping knowledge and skills, your positive attitude, and your ability to work well with others and adapt to change. As e-commerce and online banking tech- nology continue to expand, tech-savvy in- dividuals will always be in demand. Banking is a profession that offers a huge variety of opportunities as well as the pos- sibility of early responsibility, rapid career progression as well as good pay and bene- fits. For those willing to accept the chal- lenge, the rewards can be great. What’s the next step? w Contact your school guidance counselor or placement officer and see if your skills and experience are suited to a banking career, whether after high school or college. w Work with your guidance counselor or call up a bank to set up a “job shadow” to experience a day in the life of a banker. Talk to those who already work in a bank. What did they do in school to get to this career? Why did they choose a banking career? What do they enjoy most about working for a bank? w Contact your local bank’s human resources department or go online to learn more about their career opportunities. Links to Learn More About Banking www.FirstBankOnline.com Tennessee’s Top Careers Nashville-based FirstBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK), has 82 full- service branches across Tennessee, South Central Kentucky, Alabama and North Georgia, and mortgage offices across the Southeast. The bank serves five of the major metro- politan markets in Tennessee and, with approximately $12.6 billion in total assets, has the resources to provide a comprehensive variety of financial services and products. The Information on this career is submitted and sponsored by
