bank clerk

banker

teller

center manager

personal banker

Northwest Bank

I had a very thorough training course, which at first was irritating as I was watching a lot of videos, reading a lot of texts, but in the end it helped me learn about banking policies. I was a float teller for about six months before I got hired in a plaza location. I loved my float manager, and really enjoyed getting to work in a number of different locations. 
I was on the teller line and got to know the regulars, which was nice. A store owner gave us holiday cards one year, and the bank I had been filling in for as a long term float celebrated my birthday with a surprise cake for me. I really enjoyed working for Northwest. I loved my co-workers and even though I've been gone for a number of years, I still keep in touch with many of them. 
The cons though were big- my branch was robbed at gun point twice in about 8 weeks. We were located in a safe, residential area and I would have never thought it would happen. We begged for better teller protection as the gunman leapt over the counter, but there was nothing done. There was a credit union in the same city that had a totally safe lobby- it wasn't as personal but the tellers were in a different room and customers engaged with them via monitor. There's almost no way they could have been held up. All we were asking for was a higher counter, or plexiglass. I had two very young children at the time and the job of my dreams was offered to me, so I left the bank. That said, I would go back if there was a branch near to where I live and there were teller protections in place. 
Secondly, when I was hired as a regular teller and moved from float pool, my pay was decreased by $2/hr. I didn't understand why that was, and was disappointed. They said that my hours would be more regular, but I was working the same days/hours I had been in float pool.

When I began my career with Northwest it was wonderful.  The company cared about their employees,  managers lead with respect, had clear goals, and subsequently the office atmosphere was very positive.  Today, the only way to be successful is to be one of the 'favorites.' SOME members of managment are willing to lie, be unethical,  and flat out demeaning towards employees just to get their way.  Offices are an understaffed revolving door, as no one wants to remain with the company in the Pittsburgh area.  Personal Bankers are run ragged by office managers, and in many areas preform more duties than managers for a laughable salary.  I've watched a manager sit in the office eating all day while everyone else works hard to maintain the office.  PB's are the glue in your offices,  learn to appreciate them.  The final manager I had was remarkable to her staff, and it's a shame those above her don't share the same level of respect toward subordinates. 

Over the past two years Northwest has decided it would be wise to attempt to act like the big boys (PNC), and it has been a failure.  If a minnow tries to play with a shark,  the shark won't even notice it.  When you try to force feed a customer base that has been trying to avoid the big bank way of thinking,  you will lose the heart and sole of your clients.  It would be nice to see the company remember who they truly are and have their own identity.

Northwest Focuses on Customer Service and making every customer feel appreciated when leaving the office.  
  A typical work day is greeting each customer and fulfilling their needs when visiting the branch.  Behind the teller line we cash checks, make withdrawals and deposits, processing different loan payments, credit card payments, filling the ATM, and having access to the Vault.
   The hardest part of the job would be to make sure the employees in the branch are doing their job correctly to pass our yearly audit.  The most enjoyable part of the job is interacting with all different kinds of customers, especially our business customers. It's always fun meeting new people and learning about their own careers and businesses they have built on their own.  
  Northwest has great health insurance and gives us our own Career apparel to wear each day.  Northwest also has a completely free checking account for customers, with no hidden fees.  
  Employees are always willing to help one another whether they are all working in the same branch, or making a phone call to a different location.  Management is also always available whether you have to contact them by phone, email, or just by having them in the branch.  
  Overall Northwest is a very relaxed bank to work for and does their best to make customers and employees happy.

I applied to Northwest to get in the banking industry. I worked with a great team and enjoyed my specific work location, but wasn’t impressed with Northwest overall. The benefits were good, comparable to benefits I received in previous roles, but the pay was very low in my opinion.

I worked in a retail branch - their initial pay offer was ridiculously low compared to the position I was leaving, so I’d recommend negotiating before accepting no matter what position you get. Hours were standard banking hours which was nice, as were the bank holidays. Most advancement opportunities of interest to me were in Pennsylvania, which was a problem for me since I am not interested in moving to PA.

Again, my team and direct leadership was good but quite a few people in the back offices came off as rude and the answers to certain questions were not always consistent - I would ask a question and get wildly different answers depending on who I spoke to, which was confusing until I became familiar with procedures and processes myself.

All in all, a decent entry level  job if you want to break into banking and don’t want to do cutthroat sales.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The coworkers and medical benefits plus free parking right in front of the office . 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The constantly high call volume, having to constantly try not to make a mistake, regularly being told you did something wrong on a call and the seemingly endless changes in policies and procedures.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
There seems to be a constant turnover of staff. People get hired, either directly or by the agency they use, then they're gone a few weeks later. Sometimes they are there for a few days only 
The pay is lousy for all they expect of you and the schedule changes regularly. The regular criticism of telling you that you failed a call for something is also a strain.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You come in, set up your laptop you have to bring home with you, open up all your programs you need, then just keep taking calls back to back, except for two ten minute breaks and a half hour lunch, until it's time to go home. 
The last month has been constant calls with sometimes a back log of well in excess of 100 calls or call backs waiting.

i do not recommend this bank if you are seeking employment for many reasons. extremely poor regional management. steal your ideas for their own benefit. harp on you daily to produce loans and ask for your ideas on how to generate them due to the fact that they have absolutely no idea how to generate mortgage, Heloc's, and personal loans including vehicles and boats. no joke the branch closest to lake erie in lorain produced zero boat loans in over 3 years. don't you think that is a problem? especially when it was Lorain National Bank boat loans were produced at the handful EVERY month across the region!!! this bank is ran by individuals in Warren, PA (headquartered) that truly have no clue what business ethics are. The Human Resources department has associates that play favorites and will not hesitate to put the dart in the bullseye that is on your back everyday when you work here in the Ohio region. It is the Northwest way or no way and if you are not one of regional managements favorites you should start counting down the days as soon as you start. Stay away!!!

I wish I would of known about what I know now.  In all of my years of banking, I've never been treated or felt belittled like I did here.  Here are some key points to help you know what this place is like.  There is a revolving door, people come and people go to easily whether you leave on your own or are let go.  Seems like this is the fashion at this Buffalo location, not sure about PA.There is absolutely minimal training which is an issue across all businesses and teams.  Management doesn't step in to train you they rely on staff.  Beware, if your colleague is unhappy well that's the training that your get. They can set you up for failure. You are not given the tools to do your job and the expectations are so high that they're not reasonable. There is no compliments of or good moral to keep you motivated.  You are held accountable for everything even though you just learned it or have no idea on how to do it.  The work given doesn't match most positions. Management is aware of the lack of training yet takes no action.  This company is also known as a "good ole boys club".  So if you're not a favorite or a man don't expect to move any further than where you are.

I came to Northwest Bank a little over a year ago from a much larger financial institution, I turned down the opportunity to advance my career with a large FI. Had I know then what I know now I would never had left my former employer. There is little to no training associated with any job thorough out this company! You have littler to no support or assistance from your managers or their superiors. There is a lack of communication throughout the entire company many departments do not communicate to each other which causes many issues through out the company. Their main focus is right now is growth. They are planning mergers and acquisitions over the next 5-10 years. However they have little to no plan to grow their current departments which are short staffed and struggling to stay a float. The back office is full of drama and you are considered an outsider if you have not been there for more than 15 years... The atmosphere is extremely toxic and I would never have accepted a position with this company had I know it was run like this!

They expected a lot for 15.00 an hour.  They have to answer to a corporate office in Warren Pennsylvania, which makes it difficult.  For one,  the management there has no idea who anyone was really
in Buffalo, nor did they take any personal interest.  They gave only a half hour lunch and 2 ten minute breaks, which was hardly enough time to get away from the stress and at least have some lunch.  The atmosphere is wound up tight and the stress in the room was almost unbearable. There is an undercurrent of toxic competition 
I had the feeling that everyone was watching for that one person to get the heat so they could feel more special in their position
What did I learn?  There needs to be more incentive on a personal level and really get to know the worker. I know it's business,  but we all are human beings.  If you cheat workers out of time off, or lunch, and act like they are lucky to have a job, it brings out the worst in the group.  They turn out to be highly competitive with each other and that stinks.   Give them the time off they need and pay them so that they will be more happy to be there.   Just Saying.

Starting out I was excited because the whole work/life balance script was sold to me. Realistically the only people allowed the work/life balance was anyone but me. Day 1 in branch my new coworkers could not express to me how much they hate the place and felt sorry and surprised for me that I now worked here. Shortly after starting in branch I was let know that the days I would have off work wouldn't be promised which ruins the work/life balance I was sold on. It's not my fault that the branch is understaffed but I am constantly made to feel like it's my fault. I can't ever joke with my coworkers and when I ask questions I'm met with judgemental and rude responses since all of my coworkers are checked out at this point. It's a difficult environment to feel good about, I constantly feel like I'm being run down mentally. Even I have started looking elsewhere for a job and I haven't even been here that long. The pay isn't even great so for all the stress I'd just stay away.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Bank clerk 1 salary reported	$13.50 per hour
Banker 7 salaries reported	$19.79 per hour
Teller 2 salaries reported	$17.25 per hour
Center manager 2 salaries reported	$72,000 per year
Personal banker 2 salaries reported	$36,000 per year

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