Philadelphia OIC partners with BankWork$®, a free vocational training program that trains inner-city adults the hard and soft skills needed to start a career in banking. The model was designed to focus on teller positions, and has since expanded to include customer service representative and personal banking positions which are in high demand across multiple financial institutions. The program was launched in 2006 by the Sherri and Les Biller Family Foundation in partnership with JVS-Los Angeles (JVS-SoCal). With its initial success, in 2011 the program expanded to Seattle with the YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish.
Since the program’s inception, the program has graduated over 2,000 BankWork$® students – with more than 3,400 graduates in banking positions across 8 different cities. They target young adults from underserved neighborhoods who otherwise may not have the opportunity to seek a career in the banking industry. The national expansion is being sponsored by three partner banks – Bank of America and Wells Fargo – along with many local banks who support the program by hiring their graduates and sponsoring the local vocational training organizations.
For more information on enrolling in the program, contact Shantelle Faison at 215-236-7700 x 350.
For more information on becoming a strategic partner, contact Latoya Edmond at bankworks@philaoic.org.
STEVENS AMENDMENT
Philadelphia OIC SOAR is 66% funded by three U.S. Department of Labor Grants ($2,989,488.81), 18% funded by state and/ or local governmental resources ($830,000), and 16% funded through non-governmental resources ($720,236.36).
FUNDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, the accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. SOAR program is an equal opportunity employer/program, and auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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Before Alex Robinson enrolled in the BankWork$ program at Philadelphia OIC, he worked two jobs, one as a cook in a hospital and the other supervising food safety at a sporting arena. The two jobs did not bring in enough money for a comfortable life, especially as the supervisor position was seasonal. With a hunger to do more, and a longstanding curiosity about finance, Alex decided to pursue a career in banking.