Community Banks Encouraged to Participate in Hiring Our Heroes Program
A new partnership between the American Bankers Association and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation will expand veteran hiring opportunities at banks across the nation. The partnership, announced at the ABA’s annual convention in Seattle, will enable more community banks to participate in the Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship program which allows transitioning service members and military spouses to intern with private sector employers for up to 12 weeks. Since the program started in 2015, 92 percent of Corporate Fellowships have resulted in offers for permanent employment.
“America’s banks have a long and proud tradition of supporting those who serve, and today our industry benefits tremendously from having thousands of veterans serving in banking jobs across the country,” said Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO. “This partnership with Hiring Our Heroes will make it even easier for banks, especially community banks, to hire veterans and military spouses looking to launch a career. We want even more heroes in banking.”
While many large employers including large banks participate in the Hiring Our Heroes program, many smaller institutions, especially those not located near a military base, are not familiar with the initiative. Under the partnership, ABA will work with Hiring Our Heroes to match interested banks with Corporate Fellowship opportunities in their region.
“We welcome the chance to build on the banking industry’s strong record of veteran hiring,” said Hiring Our Heroes President Eric Eversole. “We believe community banks are a perfect fit for many transitioning servicemembers and military spouses, and the Corporate Fellowship program is a highly effective tool to connect them.”
At the convention, bank executives learned more about how their institutions can benefit from the Corporate Fellowship program. In a panel discussion, Sound Community Bank Chair and CEO Laurie Stewart, the incoming ABA chair, shared how her bank leveraged the program to hire Anthony Tran to a full-time position after his transition from the Marine Corps. Tran and Chuck Hodges, executive director of Hiring Our Heroes, joined Stewart for the discussion.
“I wasn’t really considering a career in banking until the Corporate Fellowship program matched me with Sound,” said Tran. “It turns out the skills and commitment to serve that I learned in the Marine Corps are a great fit with banking. I really appreciate this opportunity, and I encourage other veterans to consider banking as a career.”
“We are so happy with Anthony and what he has brought to the bank that we have already signed up for another Corporate Fellow,” said Stewart. “I strongly encourage other banks to consider participating in Hiring Our Heroes because veterans can help your bank in so many ways.”
Sound’s participation in the Corporate Fellowship program and their hiring of Tran is featured in a new ABA video. The video will be shared with ABA members to encourage banks to join the program.