Carter Bank and Trust

I had worked in banking over 25 years and have never been let go from a job! I would never recommend working in the department I worked in to anyone if those people are still there. The 2 workers that were already on staff were not friendly or engaging. I asked one for help and she asked me "what did I need", mind you I had just started the job.  It was a very strange work environment.  The manager and other employees openly cussed (using the f word, etc.). They talked about fellow co-workers (sales people, IT employees) in front of everyone in the group. One teammate who had issues with migraines  would turn off the lights and have the rest of us working with a desk lamp. In the beginning she would ask if others minded if she turned then off but eventually she would just flip them off with no warning.   I was not trained properly for the position.  I was showed how to do one task of the job and then expected to do the job. The trainer was a fellow teammate and she was not professional. She seemed irritated when I would not get a process down immediately.  She was always very short with me whenever I asked her something.  I knew she did not want to help me!  She was always very condescending to me.  I feel part of it was definitely age discrimination. I was the oldest person in that small group.  She still works there. She's in her late twenties.  She hired a friend of hers to take my place and was openly training her for my job. Since she was her friend she took her time and trained her properly.  I knew it was a matter of time before they let me go. They did me a favor!  I hope other new employees are treated a lot better than I was!

Working at Carter Bank and Trust can be extremely stressful and underpaid considering the daily challenges you face. The job in the contact center is not suitable for individuals with family or health issues due to the lack of flexibility. The biased training provided leaves little room for errors, and any mistakes made are heavily criticized, even though the training itself is subpar.

The turnover rate at both the contact center and the bank is alarmingly high, reflecting a problematic work environment. The company is resistant to investing in new systems that could streamline processes for their older customer base, demonstrating a reluctance to adapt to modern practices. Feedback from employees is quickly dismissed, hindering opportunities for improvement.

Despite the significant turnover, upper management and training departments fail to reassess their practices, perpetuating the cycle of issues within the organization. The starting pay for branches is around $13 per hour, while the contact center pays slightly above $16, which is below the market average for the city. This discrepancy raises concerns about the company's commitment to its employees' well-being and success.

In conclusion, Carter Bank and Trust's operational practices and compensation structure raise serious questions about its commitment to employee satisfaction and overall business integrity.

I was hired in 2016 before the overhaul of the company had taken place. I got to see the old guard change into the new guard. They made so many changes that helped and were so much better than before. But, they still did not pay very well or give opportunities for advancement within the company. I had done every job in the branch except lend during my time there and every time I wanted to advance I was always told I wasn’t qualified enough. Even though I had done everything asked if my position and then some as well as most managerial duties. The raises were basically change when we received them. Their health benefits are very good and PTO time is generous. The HR department is wonderful too. They just don’t want to advance within the company. Since the overhaul of the core of the bank, they prefer to hire from outside before ever thinking to consider inside. They did not reward their employees at all. The morale inside of the branches had gotten so bad and so low. So many people, including myself, left to seek better paying and better suited positions since apparently none of us were qualified enough to be paid for the jobs we actually done everyday. 

Management is terrible here! People that have been working their have been trying to let upper management know about her mistakes and failures due to forgetfulness, blatant disregard and ignorance yet still won’t retire. She picks on people, holds grudges and mistreats you especially if you know more information than she knows or if you try to speak up for yourself it is falsely reflected or half of the story is told in your reviews. Talks to management from other branches about employees’ personal business. System goes down constantly. Company makes rules then turns around and changes them sometimes without having the slightest idea of a replacement. Uses and works employees to death without regard to health or family. Does not go out into the community to do service (didn’t before COVID). Overall this is the worst job I’ve ever had quite frankly. Work-life balance is horrible (M-F and S with 1 half day off or M-F with Saturday off).  The turnover rate should be more than enough for upper management to question this branch but it isn’t. Sadly things will never change. Work here long enough to get the experience then leave. If you have to do that, if not do not come here.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best parts of working at Carter bank is its people.  There is a true sense of family and community across all departments and at all levels.  

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
For me there are situations at any job that will cause a measure of “stress”.  However, those instances are lessened because of the support you receive from all areas while completing job duties, task, etc.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
As stated before, it is an environment of community and family conducive to growth, achievement and success.  Its culture is diverse and allows for a wealth of opportunities for each associate to express themselves through volunteering and giving back to the communities that Carter serves.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Depending on division, department or area, a typical day can range from slow to fast paced.  However, a typical day is always based on helping our customers and the communities we serve grow and prosper through the advice, products and services we offer to fit the majority of our customers’ needs.

What is the best part of working at the company?
of working for the company was the employees very kind very nurturing very helpful wanting you to make the most of your position there mentoring you in anyway

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There wasn’t really anything stressful about working with them. It was a very easy going job. The only thing stressful at that time. It was towards the end of Covid so of course that brought stress to anything, but that wasn’t the company’s fault. I thought they handled it very well.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Working environment is very laid-back. The employees are very helpful management helpful stepping up to help if there was a issue very family they like doing things for you. They cared about you.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?

Day was just coming in opening up the branch getting your roar out doing the night drop any emails that needed to be done counting the vault or if we got money in I’m waiting on the customers and that was about it

Everyday I come into work, I clock in and I do my cash settlement report, print maintenance, NSF and teller mismatch reports. I'm usually the first to arrive at work other than the drive thru- teller. Vault is opened and night drop is done. I usually have 20-25 minuets left after my reports are done. I get my teller station ready for the day. I have my drawer and my money organized and prepared to open for the day. my co-workers and I provide customer service to our customers and help the customers solve any problems they may have. I don't think my job is hard at all. I love being a teller and I try to learn as much as I can. I am the fastest person to balance everyday; my manager has told me. What I enjoy the most about my job is that over the past year and a half I have gotten to know my customers and I enjoy seeing them when they come in. I wouldn't change anything about my job except faster technology and a better pay.

Training is communal which means you learn by mistakes.  There is no formal training program in place with very limited HR staff. The regional managers do not get reviewed and are free to yell at managers and degrade them in meetings.  The health care is free but no one will take it.  Discrimination abounds here. OSHA could find many problems with what staff is required to do in the branch . Pay is way under what equal size community banks offer. Favoritism for higher earning depositors is common practice. Have to attend meetings off the clock. There is a lot of talent in the branches and the corporate offices but they are not utilized to the best extent of their knowledge. Many of the employees are nice, but there really needs to be some changes in management. If the CEO really knew what was going on he would clean house.

Worst management will literally send the lowest employee out to drum up business while they sit behind a desk talking to their family all day and then take all the credit, also put all their work load on the csr so they won’t have to do it. Management will also set employees up by making them sign loan checks and then tell them that everything thing will be okay, will also have the tellers schedule their own monthly audit.  This could have been a good company to work for if management pulled their own weight and the higher ups would communicate better with their branches.  Also I have been personally told by management to get rid of customers that wanted to stand around and talk with the tellers. This is the worst place to work always have to keep your eye on the manger will cheat you out of vacation time, will harass you while off the clock about petty things never nothing important.

Some of the Chief’s need to retire, this bank will not progress with old school mentality.  Why promote a manager to a VP yet the person has to get approval from her Chief for everything.  Control, control, control.  The pay is well below par.  People with college degrees are underpaid, this is why college students leave. Besides there is too much ‘kin’ at this bank. Should this bank ever be sold or goes under, there will be many families with multiple family members who are unemployed.  And no attendance policy, so basically come to work when you want, takes months to be terminated.  This bank could be a great place to work, if the right people were in management, and they stuck by their words and policies.

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