In March 2022, your NBA Board of Directors utilized NBA/NBISCO 2022 year-end profits, as well as a small portion of cash reserves, to develop a comprehensive workforce development strategy to address the workforce needs of NBA members. Since then, NBA staff and volunteers have been working diligently to conduct extensive research on industry best practices, foster meaningful engagement with stakeholders and establish a strategic roadmap for introducing students to the diverse range of banking career opportunities. The “Bank On Your Future” campaign was unveiled at the 2023 NBA Convention on May 3-5.

My personal thanks to NBA Director of Communications and Marketing Kara Heideman, who provided leadership for laying the groundwork for this project with the help and support of numerous other NBA team members.

Our initial research included analyzing workforce development efforts in other industries and states and having discussions with K-12 and college educators, Nebraska Department of Education staff, former bank interns, young individuals entering the banking industry, bank human resources teams and training staff, as well as leaders from banks of different sizes. These endeavors were rewarding, enlightening and frightening, all at the same time.

Our research indicated students are being exposed to career opportunities as young as in grade school. To be a part of the conversation, the banking industry needs to continue to engage students at a much younger age to discuss banking careers. These efforts must be deliberate and ongoing. Educators expressed a desire to connect with bankers, particularly to help implement financial literacy standards. However, they may not know how or may be nervous about doing so. As one teacher noted, the perception still exists that “bankers are scary.” Similarly, bankers can find interacting with students uncomfortable and can struggle to connect with students on the appropriate personal and grade levels.

Internships are a key part of career exploration. In order to keep Nebraska banks competitive in the talent race, they need to provide high-quality internship experiences. Several previous bank interns shared their frustration with the lack of engagement with bank staff, the limited opportunities to engage in meaningful learning experiences during their internship, and the little or nonexistent follow-up and connection with their bank following their internship.

The research led to the development of several strategies, many of which are already in progress and are listed below. You will hear and learn more about the campaign in the coming months and years.

1. The NBA engaged Archrival, a Lincoln-based agency specializing in connecting with the next generation, to develop the initiative’s graphics and campaign messaging. The theme that emerged from this work was the importance of highlighting how young people can positively impact their communities with a career in banking.
   
   
2. The NBA recently hired Steven Mah as the new NBA Workforce Development Coordinator, and also an intern, who will help Kara lead this work for the foreseeable future. I encourage you and your team to reach out and connect with Steven.
   
   
3. Your NBA team recently helped sponsor the Nebraska DECA, FBLA and FFA conferences. We also had a booth at these events which provided opportunities to highlight careers in banking and connect with high school students and educators.
   
   
4. The NBA Foundation Committee recently approved the allocation of philanthropic dollars to initiatives at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, designed to introduce first-generation and minority students to the banking sector.
   
   
5. At our recent Annual Convention, two panels, “Learning from Higher Education Leaders” and “Maximizing Your Internship Investment,” provided insights into the mindset of college students and information on how to connect with them. These panels also highlighted banks with successful internship programs.
   
   
6. NBA staff is developing an internship toolkit to help member banks build successful intern programs.
   
   
7. The creation of a graphic that lays out the many career paths in the banking sector is in progress. We have learned that banking is not a career path but rather a “career jungle gym,” as one Nebraska banker put it.
   
   
8. NBA staff are building a website highlighting the important role of banking in the community, the many banking jobs available in the state, an overview of banking salaries and benefits, etc. This site will deliver information targeted to students, teachers and faculty.

The NBA Board of Directors and your dedicated team see the items noted above as simply the springboard to successfully showcasing the banking industry as a rewarding, profitable and gratifying career choice. However, for the initiative to be successful, we need every bank and banker to collaborate and actively participate in these activities to engage the next generation. Visit www.nebankers.org/bankonyourfuture to sign up to be notified of Bank On Your Future activities. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more.