The first class of adults from low-income and minority communities or those with barriers to employment graduated on March 2 from BankWork$, a partnership with Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) to prepare workers for careers in the financial services industry.
These 13 people are the first in Phoenix to graduate from BankWork$, a partnership with Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) to prepare workers for careers in the financial services industry (submitted photo).
“BankWork$ is an intensive program that prepares graduates to be able to start careers as tellers, customer service representatives or personal bankers in an industry with tremendous opportunities for growth,” said AWEE President and CEO Marie Sullivan. “Their sales and customer service training will put them on a career path that will mean financial stability for them and for their families.”
The 13 women and men from across the Valley who completed the eight-week program, meeting three times a week for 168 hours, participated in a Career Fair after the graduation ceremony. Banks participating in the hiring event included Wells Fargo, Bank of America, MidFirst Bank, Western Alliance Bank, Comerica Bank and AmTrust Bank.
BankWork$ launched in 2006 in Los Angeles and currently places about 200 graduates each year. By 2019, BankWork$ will be operating in 15 or more cities nationwide. Its $4-million national expansion is funded by Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, which have each pledged $1 million over five years to support the rollout, and by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, which founded the program and has also pledged $1 million.
Since its launch, BankWork$ has successfully placed more than 800 graduates who were hired by banks and other financial institutions.
BankWork$ classes are free for participants. Start date for upcoming BankWork$ trainings at AWEE are April 13, July 20 and Oct. 17. For information and to apply, call 602-223-4349 or e-mail bankworks@awee.org.
