relationship banker

senior relationship banker

senior service associate

branch manager

senior program manager

First-Tech-Federal-Credit-Union

In the past 18 months, our company's culture has drastically shifted. The positive atmosphere we once celebrated has now become overshadowed by leadership that seems out of its depth. These leaders set goals that are not just ambitious but unrealistic, without equipping us with the necessary tools or clear directions to achieve them. This has created a gap between what is expected and what is practically achievable, placing an unfair burden on middle managers and frontline leaders to deliver on targets that even the top executives seem to misunderstand.

My advice to those considering joining us is to reconsider and seek employment elsewhere, in a place where respect, support, and the value of each employee and their input are central to the company’s ethos. Many of us are already looking for new opportunities beyond First Tech, aiming to find an organization that will value the contributions we are eager to make. This desire for change stems from a place of frustration with how new company goals are communicated and implemented. These goals, which are vital to the company's direction, have been set without a clear explanation or understanding of their impact on the daily operations of average employees. We find ourselves accountable for results tied to objectives that our leaders can neither adequately explain nor integrate into our operational strategies.

This situation is particularly challenging because it seems these pivotal goals were decided upon without any real consultation with or input from those of us in the trenches or in middle management positions. Those of us not in executive roles feel the impact most acutely, as we lack the financial cushion to mitigate the effects of these changes on our livelihoods.

Despite these challenges, I hold onto the hope that our CEO genuinely cares about the company and its people. There’s a collective wish among us that he will recognize these missteps and steer us back on course before we lose more of our foundational leaders. These are individuals who are considering leaving not out of desire for personal gain but in search of a work environment that better respects and values their contributions and well-being.

When I got hired, they knew I was knew to the banking world and they said we would learn what we needed to in training. My training was extended to be the longest training class and it still wasn't enough. Out of the 6 weeks in trainign, I got to use a computer maybe two weeks out of the 6. Mind you, everything you do is online. My training class spent far too long discussing personal matter and didn't want to take the training serious. When it came time to hitting the floor, I knew maybe 20% of the job. I had to call for assurance non stop. I had to put almost every member on hold. When in pod, which is the final step before you're on your own, they pointed out how many things we were taught incorrectly so basically all of my notes were garbage. They hated me asking so many questions. All I wanted to do was do my job well. They would say look at your notes! Well how can I when you say my notes are wrong! Was way too stressful. I have lupus and my lupus hasn't been active in about 5 years. After 2 months of waiting to get heath insurance, I finally was able to get blood work to find out that because of the high stress I was under all day and thinking about work while at home, my lupus because active again. I resigned the next day. Sure pay is good, but not for someone like me. For once in my life, I gave up and quit. I couldn't handle it. The company overall seems cool. They do paid community service, which could be on top of your normal 40 hours or apart of it. You get 16 paid hours of community service, which you have to do at some point during the year. Be careful when considering the call center position. There are so many systems that you have to use on a regular basis and if you're new to banking, might want to be a teller first before doing their call center role. Oh, they are like in the top 5 of credit union's and Rocklin is the only call center to take customers calls... think about that. Your call queue was so huge at times. That also adds to your stress. Members were nice for the most part. This company wants you to hit quota but also wants you to build relationships with members too with no dead air. Better get good at small talk.

Been with the CU about 1 1/2 yrs with at least 5 yrs previous banking experience. The manager spoke negatively of the CU during the interview. I made clear my career path/goals. Found out you’re hired and/or promoted by cronyism. I was denied advancement 3 times and was offered a SME title with no raise and extra menial work because of my prior experience. The majority of my team has been with the CU only a few months longer than me. Management came from banks and coworkers have no previous experience and we receive literally no training. Sit and watch someone else and learn by mistake. People constantly talk negatively about coworkers and the job. One on one meetings for the past year all went the same - Manager cannot open or locate notes to go over, makes personal texts for some time and apologizes, then asks the same questions every. Single. Meeting. For over a year. “Where do you live again? How is family? Do you have input for me?” We’re back office and were told we wouldn’t take calls like a call center, we do. We were told there was an off the phone schedule, instead we are given mandatory OT despite being well within SLA. Management hangs out constantly in their own private clique meetings to get promoted and disregard their teams entirely. New corporate HQ is not public transit accessible. I was hired when the CU hit 500,000 members. Guess the size changed corporate culture to bank mentality.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Discounted financial products like mortgages, loans, and credit cards.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Terrible leadership. Profit before people. Politics rule that place, merit is secondary at best. First you must please higher ups by never challenging or questioning them, or else you will be fired on trumped up performance issues. They love to say proudly that they don't lay people off, even in 2008, but what they don't tell you is that their workaround is to make up performance issues and fire you. They get around any severance payouts that way. Horrible. I've never worked anywhere that did this.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
I have many friends I made there, and still have them. The environment is mostly fine. They don't subsidize food trucks, and barely subsidize kitchen/canteen food items. It can be a fun place to work, but that is if you are fortunate enough to get in with a group that has a reasonable, intelligent VP, otherwise, your experience could be horrible like mine (with respect to management).

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Writing status reports every day. Sitting at my desk working on ambiguous projects that are purely "do as I say" and even a very senior level analyst like me has no influence. I received virtually zero positive feedback, only negative, constantly. I have received more awards from peers than anyone in the five years I was there, but that meant nothing to our group as far as my value to the company.

First Tech is growing bigger but not better. Expectations continue to expand without clear justification, and employees are increasingly expected to excel in every area, regardless of role or training. New performance metrics and requirements appear constantly, and falling short often leads to judgment rather than support. Meeting these expectations rarely results in meaningful recognition or reward.
Attempts to raise concerns are often dismissed or reframed, creating an environment where employees who speak up are labeled as difficult. Those with strong skills or motivation would likely find better opportunities elsewhere—places that compensate fairly and value development. Ironically, the people who seem to fit best are those who stay under the radar and avoid the noise.
Recent changes have made things worse. Incentives were cut by roughly half, reducing the financial justification for the ever increasing workload. Training was shortened from three weeks to one, despite already being below industry standards. Employees are now held to the same expectations without being given the knowledge or preparation to meet them, and mistakes are blamed on the individual rather than the inadequate training.
Leadership appears to operate in a “yes‑man” culture where poor decisions go unchallenged and accountability is lacking. The organization does not uphold the values it claims to represent.
Overall, this is not a company worth investing your time in if you have other options.


Work-life balance
non-existent. My schedule has changed with little warning 4 times in 1.5 years. Told get more sales maybe you would get a better shift. Sales, sales sales. All they care about.

Pay & benefits
benefits are okay. They discounts on products are the best thing about this job.

Job security and advancement
I think if you get sales and don't call in. Not really a problem. More people quit due to horrible treatment than by getting fired. 

Good luck moving up you have to get an insane amount of sales and brown nose like no tomorrow.  No thank you.

Management
In general, managers at First Tech Federal Credit Union moved up for getting sales not for being qualified managers none of them know how to manage. Lots of yelling  and talking down to people. Not treated like fellow adults. Ridiculous amount of stress that is not necessary by promoting unqualified people who have ZERO banking experience. None of them take responsibility for not knowing the answers to many many questions. They do not like being asked questions.

Culture
Sad no one is told anything before huge things happen that double or triple call volume. Changes to primary systems happen often that never work at first making for so much unnecessary stress.

Overall
My experience working at First Tech Federal Credit Union has been stressful. I hate my job but since covid hit I have no options. Many places are not hiring. ASAP I will be leaving. Don't come here unless you want micro managed, and pressured for an insane amount of sales, and when you get the sales they want, they always want more.

The environment is fast pace, everyday could bring something new.  From new technologies to performing the same administration duties, it is never a dull moment.

The management is very driving, always looking to grow the company and its employees.  And the employees are what really make my company what it is.  Everyone has a stake in the company, seeing it do good in both a positive and negitive economy, which is really difficult in a financial instituion.  So employees are set in their ways while some are ever growing.  Either way, both types of employees have their positive benefits to the company.

The hardest part of the job is to be able to take on the addition of new tasks and responsibilities on a daily basis while still performing what you did and learned yesterday, last month, and last year.  But I wouldn't change it for anything.

This environment enables all employees to learn if they so wish.  Seeing co-workers grow into positions that they themselves felt was "too much" for them only to see them succeed is very satisfying.  Working along side some very intelligent and thoughtful people in a high paced and high demand environment makes me want to be a better engineer.

It's companys like this that I am in the search for.  While I have been there for seven plus years and it would be hard to leave, at times everyone one needs something new.

This was by far the worst company I've ever worked for - purely due to management and the culture adopted by the people. Unless you have a management or above title, your contributions are not considered valid and any suggestions you have to alleviate issues is disregarded unless it comes from someone with a title "worthy" of their time. This creates a larger issue because in most departments management is not aware of how to complete the work itself on the basic level. They only have a higher overview. So when systems or processes break, they don't understand the why of the issue. But, if you bring up the issue or a solution to the issue to management, you'll be disregarded because it will take too much "time" to fix. They only fix issues after it has impacted people or if someone with a worthy title is angry enough about the issue after the fact. Otherwise, they will remind you that you are replaceable and your attitude is too negative. Additionally, I was paid less here than any other company I have worked for, despite doing multiple people's positions to cover bandwidth issues.

Last but not least, they will lie directly to your face with no qualms. Make sure to get everything in writing. Their philosophy is that if they cannot be held accountable, then the morality or ethics of the matter don't really matter. This was said directly to me when I questioned the ethics of a policy that was not being followed.  

I can't speak to every department, but it seemed pretty wide spread during my time there. Run. This place is toxic.

I've worked at First Tech for several years, growing with the company as it went from relatively small to an industry leader. It's been a pleasant surprise to experience that growth and to know deep down that the organization has retained the amazing friendly and caring culture that it had when I joined.  There isn't much turnover with senior leadership, and while getting the work done is a priority, it's done in a collaborative and satisfying way. 
Like any job, there are periods of stress, but for the most part any surges in work are predicted and there are opportunities to prepare and excel. Afterwards, those that contribute are rewarded in some way.
When I joined I had skills that I brought with me, but one of the benefits of the work culture is that I've learned to work smarter and in ways that are more beneficial to my team and other business units. I've been encouraged to join professional organizations, attend conferences, obtain certifications, and even to outgrow my position and seek other roles both within and without the company.
I don't see myself leaving unless there are unavaidable life circumstances that compel me to.

During a typical day there was a lot of interaction with members and coworkers alike, lots and lots of computer work, and learning on the job each day. Having been in three positions during my time here I learned a lot and was able to practice what I learned daily. 

I learned things like cash handling, opening of new accounts, loan origination, IRA and 401K origination, some mortgage lending, wire transfers and much more involved in the financial world. In addition I learned and relearned a lot of how to interact with the public from a financial perspective and how best to communicate that the best option was and how to achieve whatever goals members were striving for. 

Management is good for the most part, like any job there are both great and not so great managers. The experience changes from department to department. 

The overall culture is very member centric and focused on what the member wants and needs and how to achieve that while providing the highest level of service possible. 

The most difficult part was both learning new things and applying them and relearning how to communicate your ideas to members to get them to understand the long term picture.

The most enjoyable part was getting to see the satisfaction on members faces when things ended up working out better than they could have thought possible.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Relationship banker 67 salaries reported	$23.63 per hour
Senior relationship banker 15 salaries reported	$27.21 per hour
Senior service associate 15 salaries reported	$25.74 per hour
Branch manager 15 salaries reported	$80,881 per year
Senior program manager 13 salaries reported	$98,269 per year

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