CCSNH’s ApprenticeshipNH and NH Mutual Bancorp are partnering for the programs which will launch in central NH, Lakes and Monadnock regions.
Concord, NH (April 3, 2023) – Banks play a vital role in helping economies and communities thrive but to do so, they need skilled staff to help them operate successfully. ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce program of the Community College System of New Hampshire, and NH Mutual Bancorp are launching New Hampshire’s first Bank Teller Registered Apprenticeship program. This program will provide apprentices aged 16 years and older with a practical pathway to a career in banking. Using ApprenticeshipNH’s ‘earn while you learn’ model, apprentices will earn pay and be mentored and trained onsite to become the next generation of banking professionals at northern New England’s first shared community banking services organization.
“We are excited to partner with NH Mutual Bancorp to offer a new opportunity and New Hampshire’s first Bank Teller Registered Apprenticeship program,” said Anne Banks, CCSNH’s Apprenticeship programs manager. “Banking is very well suited for the apprenticeship model and offers excellent career pathways for individuals of all ages, including high school students and adults, to seamlessly enter the financial services industry and earn while they learn. NH Mutual Bancorp has developed an excellent opportunity to prepare apprentices to become bank tellers in the Capital, Lakes, and Monadnock regions of the state through programs with partner banking institutions.”
The one-year Bank Teller Registered Apprenticeship program combines 2,000 hours of practical on-the-job training with 148 hours of classroom learning provided by the American Banking Association, NH Mutual Bancorp and the Community College System’s WorkReadyNH program. Apprentices will have the opportunity to train at Merrimack County Savings Bank in Concord, Meredith Village Savings Bank in Meredith and Savings Bank of Walpole in Keene.
“We are thrilled to partner with ApprenticeshipNH to offer the state’s first Bank Teller program,” said David Cronin, EVP Chief Human Resources Officer for NH Mutual Bancorp. “As with many industries, we too need skilled workers now and into the future, and this program creates a wonderful pipeline for new talent in an industry with significant growth opportunities. This apprenticeship program will help us build a new entry point to a banking career and address the need for developing new bank tellers in multiple locations across the state.”
A bank teller is responsible for providing banking services to customers including financial transactions, maintaining accounts, providing customer service and promoting bank products. Bank tellers are integral to the banking industry working directly with customers and helping build essential communications skills, banking industry knowledge and relationships. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 35,000 openings for tellers are projected each year, on average, through 2031.
The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship and ApprenticeshipNH work together with community partners to create industry-driven, high-quality career pathways where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally recognized credential. The program is supported by WorkNowNH and Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA).
ApprenticeshipNH was established in 2017 and is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor to assist employers building registered apprenticeships, pre-apprentice and high school programs in high-demand sectors including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, construction, hospitality, transportation/logistics, and education/childcare. ApprenticeshipNH has a history of assisting New Hampshire employers with Registered Apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and programs with high school students as proven recruitment strategies. Participating employers have experienced increased productivity, boosted employee retention, improved company culture and an ensured knowledge transfer when filling retiring positions with qualified, skilled workers. To date, more than 700 apprentices and over 60 employers have benefitted from the program. Visit ApprenticeshipNH.com for more information.
New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB) was created through a unique alliance between three mutual community banks and a wealth management firm who maintain separate organizations and management. The companies are able to achieve best in class software, services and staffing while providing efficiencies through their shared service provider, NHMB. NHMB provides risk management, facilities, marketing, human resource, finance, compliance, information technology, deposit operations, loan operations and digital banking services to Meredith Village Savings Bank, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Savings Bank of Walpole and NHTrust. This strategic partnership has positioned the banks to leverage each other’s strengths as they work together to advance a shared vision of maintaining and enhancing community banking standards and values. As of December 31, 2022, NHMB had combined assets of $3.59 billion and NHTrust had assets under management of $1.14 billion. For more information, visit nhmutual.com.
