When most people think about their local community bank they think of their local branch along with the tellers and manager that operate the branch. However, there are a vast array of behind-the-scenes jobs that make a financial institution function on a daily basis.  Let’s take a brief look at the many job opportunities within a community bank.

Accounting Department

This is a large department that performs many crucial functions for the bank. The Accounting Department is responsible for financial statements, balancing the general ledgers, paying bills, managing vendors, purchasing supplies, tax reporting and much, much, more. It is one of the biggest departments in the back office of any financial institution with many job opportunities, from interns to clerks to Chief Financial Officers.

Branch Staff

• Tellers

Bank tellers are responsible for processing bank’s day-to-day transactions. They are the face of the bank that customers interact with on a daily basis. Tellers need to know the bank’s products and services, as well as how to operate the transaction processing system. As a teller, positions exist for both part-time and full-time staff.

• Customer Service Representatives

Customer Service Representatives, or CSRs, are responsible for opening accounts, assisting customers with technical support, general account maintenance, and assisting with the daily operations of the branch. Many CSRs also function as tellers in order to cover breaks and keep the branch operational.

• Managers

Branch Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operational side of the branch. In addition to overseeing the tellers and CSRs, the manager is responsible for attaining branch goals, visiting local businesses, staying involved in the local community, and maintaining the lines of communication between their branch, the back office, and other branches of the bank.

Information Technology (IT)

As more and more banks are keeping up with new technologies, their IT departments are growing larger and taking on many more responsibilities. The IT Department is in charge of network security, managing computers and networks, monitoring the existing systems and researching new technologies. This department also has a critical responsibility in safeguarding the bank against cyber-attacks and hackers.

Trust Department

The Trust Department is a specialized department that works with customers to manage their assets and to allocate their investments. They help to establish trusts, estates, custodial accounts, IRAs and other retirement accounts, set up asset distributions, provide investment advisory services, and assist with Powers of Attorney.

Mortgage and Lending

The Loan Department encompasses residential mortgage loans, commercial loans, and consumer loans. They meet with people and/or businesses to help determine their credit needs and guide them through the complex loan process.

Loan Operations

Loan Operations performs the detailed underwriting on loan applications and prepares the required documentation for approved loans. They make sure the loan documents are properly completed, that the application is complete, and all documentation has been collected from the customer.

Deposit Operations

The Deposit Operations Department wears many hats. They cover a variety of tasks from scanning and filing, to assisting customers with online banking, to issuing debit cards. This department is also responsible for double-checking daily transactions and storing data to meet the bank’s retention requirements.

Marketing

Promotion, promotion, promotion! The Marketing Department at a bank is very similar to the marketing department at any other company. Their job is to create campaigns that will help to sell the bank’s products and services. The employees in the Marketing Department do everything from representing the bank at events, to buying ad space, to maintaining the bank’s social media presence, to compiling data into spreadsheets.

Senior Management

A senior management position in the bank is usually earned after being in the business for many years. The senior management team guides the daily operations of the bank, as well as sets goals and targets for the future. They review all the latest banking trends as well as keeping an eye on the local markets in order to promote new technologies and innovations going forward. 

Compliance Department

Banks are very highly regulated and held to certain standards by federal and state government units. The Compliance Department ensures the bank maintains compliance with an extensive and ever-changing menu of laws, regulations and sanctions. They make sure the bank is following all the established “rules.”

Fraud Department

The Fraud Department tracks and monitors activity in customers’ accounts to help identify scams, counterfeit checks, or unauthorized transactions. It is their job to identify suspicious or high-risk transactions, determine if there is inappropriate activity involved, and assess if there is any risk to the bank or its customers. If they detect or find any such activity, they work with law enforcement to file the appropriate reports and protect the consumer.

Human Resources

The Human Resources Department, or HR, has a large responsibility at every bank. They oversee the bank’s greatest resource, the employees. The HR Department is in charge of hiring and firing employees, maintaining compliance with labor laws, managing compensation and benefits, record keeping, addressing safety and health concerns, establishing employee relations, handling dispute management, and so much more. The HR Department is there for the benefit of the employee and to protect their rights by making sure the bank complies with the employment laws and its own policies and procedures.

If you are thinking about a career in the banking world there are many opportunities. Check out our website at https://www.fkc.bank/information/careers/ or follow us on Facebook to see the opportunities available at First Keystone. If you have any questions or would like any additional information about available jobs please email [email protected].  We’d love to talk to you about joining the First Keystone team!