Friday, June 8, 2018 9:00 am EDT :Bank of America announced today its Consumer and Small Business division is targeting hiring 10,000 individuals from low- and moderate-income neighborhoods over the next five years. Through its Pathways program, the company is working with nonprofit partners to provide professional skills training and career pathways for members of the communities the bank serves. The program’s focus is on preparing candidates for ongoing career opportunities with the bank.
“Our business is based on client relationships, and we continuously seek great people in our financial centers and contact centers to build those relationships locally,” said Dean Athanasia, president and co-head of Consumer and Small Business. “By hiring from the communities we serve and helping our teammates develop their careers at the bank, we are helping our clients – and employees – lead better financial lives.”
Working with national nonprofit partners, Bank of America is building a pipeline of local talent to connect to sustainable jobs. Some partners, such as Year Up and UnidosUS, empower career-ready individuals to gain an entry point to full-time employment. Others, like Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Urban Alliance, provide opportunities for younger individuals to gain valuable skills for a future career. The bank supports these nonprofit partners in recruiting candidates for the Pathways program, which provides a defined onboarding plan, education for required skills, on-the-job training, and a roadmap to full-time employment and future career opportunities.
For participants who accept a position at Bank of America, their training comes through The Academy, Bank of America’s training and career development program that supports more than 66,000 Consumer and Small Business employees. The Academy offers instruction from subject matter experts, dedicated training time, peer mentors, immersion programs, hands-on experiential learning, and innovative digital tools that encourage employees to take personal ownership of their careers. In 2017, 25,000 associates participated in Academy training, with a third of those already taking the next step in their careers.
“The Academy is like a university within the company that instills our client-centric culture and guides our teammates throughout their career, not just in carrying out their job,” said John Jordan, head of the Academy and Advisor Development at Bank of America. “By investing in developing our current and future workforce at all points along their career journeys, we deliver on being a great place to work.”
Bank of America serves approximately 66 million client relationships with approximately 4,400 retail financial centers. About one-third of those financial centers are located in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. The Pathways program is part of a tailored, community-centered approach that connects clients and small businesses in these neighborhoods to the bank’s products and services, financial education and tools, job opportunities, and capital to help improve financial lives.
