DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BankWork$™ announced today it has partnered with Goodwill Industries of Denver to bring a free eight-week financial services job training program to The Mile High City. The program helps low-income young adults and those with barriers to employment and is already available in Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix and Portland, Oregon. BankWork$™ will soon be offering classes in Houston as well and will be expanding into Chicago later this year.
“Financial service industry jobs are not only good jobs, they’re the entry point for a fulfilling, life-long career,” said Colleen Anderson, Executive Director at BankWork$™. “Since we began this program in 2006, more than 1,000 graduates have landed jobs as tellers, customer service representatives and personal bankers at leading financial institutions and many have gone on to rise through the ranks.”
BankWork$™ graduates have a reputation for loyalty in an industry affected by a high turnover. Eighty-five percent of BankWork$™ graduates remain employed six months after hire and 72 percent are still there after one year.
“With thousands of baby-boomer bankers likely to retire within the next decade, opportunities are abundant for those pursuing a career in banking,” said Don Childears, president and CEO of the Colorado Bankers Association. “Fast track processional development programs like BankWork$™ offer job seekers the extensive hands-on training and exposure that can lead to successful, long-term employment.”
Goodwill Industries of Denver has been serving Denver and northern Colorado for nearly 100 years and helped more than 23,000 at-risk students and struggling adults last year. Goodwill’s career development programs are made possible through their retail stores and by partnering with organizations that fit with the needs of the community.
“BankWork$™ has been extremely successful in training graduates and placing them in jobs within the communities it serves. At Goodwill, we aim to give struggling individuals a hand-up – not a hand-out – and that’s exactly what BankWork$™ is doing. We’re thrilled to offer this opportunity to the people of Denver through this partnership,” said Stuart Davie, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Denver.
Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation have each pledged $1 million to support a national rollout that will bring the BankWork$™ program to 15 or more markets over five years. The national expansion goal is to place 1,200 to 1,500 graduates annually in financial services industry positions by 2019.
About BankWork$™
BankWork$™ was started in 2006 in Los Angeles by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation in partnership with regional workforce development leader JVS Los Angeles. The program currently has operations in Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix and Portland, OR. As part of a five-year, $4-million national expansion in partnership with Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, the program will expand to Houston, Denver and Chicago in 2016 and to more than 15 markets by 2019. For more information, see www.bankworks.org.
About Goodwill Industries of Denver
Goodwill Industries of Denver seeks to reverse the cycle of poverty through career preparation and skills training for at-risk youth, struggling families and individuals with disabilities. Through its thrift retail operations and community programs, Goodwill is ensuring that every individual in our community has the opportunity to live to their fullest potential and overcome barriers to success and self-sufficiency. Visit www.goodwilldenver.org to learn more.