As a newly single mother just laid off from a retail job in fall 2017, Barbara Jimenez was feeling very discouraged about the future of her career. She was determined to get a position to help support her and her family, and knew stable scheduling, a chance to use her customer service experience, and opportunities for growth—along with a consistent paycheck and full benefits—were priorities. When she discovered BankWork$ in January 2018, she realized the program could be her pathway to success.  

Barbara, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, applied for instructor Michelle Branner’s inaugural BankWork$ class, then at JVS Bay Area. She faced obstacles from the beginning, when she couldn’t afford the business professional attire required in class—but got a push to go. “That first morning I wanted to go, but I didn’t meet the dress requirements. My mom encouraged me to attend anyway,” says Barbara. “I met Michelle, and she encouraged when I felt like I was completely alone and underprepared. She helped me find a thrift store where I could find professional clothes I could afford.” 

Barbara appreciated the diversity of her classmates, which included a wide range of age, gender, and nationalities: “We had lots of people coming from different countries, and several of them had degrees. I became friends with Sandy, a fellow single mother. We helped encourage each other. By the end of the class, I was giving students rides. All of our stories were different, but our goal was the same—to get a job in this field.”  

Upon graduating, Barbara, like all BankWork$ graduates, interviewed with several different financial institutions looking to hire following a job fair hosted by the program. She felt most connected to Bank of the West, where she accepted a job as Relationship Banker. “I had a great connection with that manager. I knew that I wanted to work with him. He hired me as a banker, and I was so terrified—but excited!” 

Barbara has continued to grow in her career—and has her sights set on even more growth. “Now, years later, I’m the Senior Relationship Banker, and we’ve been meeting our goals. I’m proud of myself. When I first got hired, I read everything. I learned how to process everything. I felt like I knew a lot more than some of the older bankers did. For example, I learned how to process international clients. My managers have told me that I’m going to be a manager someday. I know I’m not ready yet, because I still have some growing to do, but I’m excited to go down that path.”  

Barbara is thankful for the support of her instructors and the skills she learned in class. “BankWork$ helped give me the confidence to walk into a bank and know all my abilities. The banking side of things was just a little bit of it. Michelle taught me how to put numbers on my resume, stand out as a candidate, and negotiate a counter-offer. She is just phenomenal; she talks like your mother, sister, or friend. She gets to know you on a personal level. She gets to know your good and your bad. She will say things like, ‘this may not work for you, because you’re better than that and you should do this other opportunity.’ Michelle is a truly special and unique woman.” 

Michelle, who is now the BankWork$ instructor at Fremont Adult and Continuing Education (FACE) also spoke highly of Barbara, saying, “Barbara was the first person I interviewed at BankWork$. I saw her potential from the first day I met her. She was eager to start a career in banking. She showed up every day with enthusiasm and a willingness to help others to learn. All of her hard work has paid off and now she’s been in banking for almost five years. I am so proud of her accomplishments.”  

When Barbara reflects on her time with BankWork$ and her life situation prior to applying, her advice to anyone in a similar situation is clear. “It took a lot of guts for me to apply, but I knew I had people counting on me. Good people want to help you. Programs like this are flexible and understanding, and want to help you become a better version of yourself. Be honest about your situation, I know that’s what I needed to do.” Barbara excels in perseverance and her willingness to learn; throughout her career, her success will only continue to grow. 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with FACE, click here. 

Lisa Baldwin was feeling professionally stuck. In October 2021, she was working full time in a warehouse, but neither that nor her previous roles were helping her achieve her personal goals. While looking for an opportunity to start a new career, she found the Bankwork$® program at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish.

“I saw this program as a chance for a career that wouldn’t lead to another dead-end job. I felt like I could do something with this, that I could go somewhere,” she says. While BankWork$ (and all CareerWork$ programs) are scheduled so participants can work while taking the course, Lisa was so ready for her next step that she quit her job to pursue BankWork$ with all her energy.   

Lisa’s favorite part of being in class was getting to know her instructors and fellow participants: “My instructors were a great support system, and I continue to stay in contact with them.” Her instructors at Seattle YWCA, Tracy Hinman and Melanie Wheeler, noted that Lisa had a strong determination to succeed despite her busy schedule. “Whenever I think about Lisa,” says Tracy, “a smile immediately comes to my face. She has had to overcome many personal challenges, but she bravely chose to use those challenges as her motivation for success, rather than as an excuse for stagnation or failure. Lisa projects positively, kindness, grace, and professionalism. It was truly a blessing having her in class.”  

After completing the BankWork$ program, Lisa connected with local recruiters from BECU at the post-graduation hiring fair. In December 2021, she accepted an offer from BECU and started her job by working in their call center. She describes her new position as a perfect match. “They give me the ability to work from home, which has been amazing for my schedule. I had already been a BECU member for several years and had a great experience with their service, and it has only become better as an employee.”  

In her new position, Lisa is looking forward to learning many different aspects of the banking industry to figure out where she wants to be long-term. “They encourage job shadowing, and I think I want to shadow a couple of different departments. I want to absorb all the knowledge I can, so I can decide which department is best for me.” 

Lisa’s dedication isn’t a surprise to instructor Melanie, who was struck by her drive from the beginning. “Lisa is such a strong woman! She had some clearly set goals for herself and her future, and she remained focused in order to reach those goals. I was so proud and grateful to be able to watch Lisa graduate, begin her new career at BECU, and reach so many of her goals despite so many obstacles that were in her way. She was so much fun to work with, and I hope she knows how proud of her we truly are!” 

As Lisa looks into the future for her career, when she reflects on her time in BankWork$, she encourages anyone thinking about signing up to “take the plunge and go into it with an open mind. I’m thankful for BankWork$, it gave me the reset I needed. We all have our ups and downs and have to reset life a couple of times, and I feel like the stars aligned because everything has worked out perfect with my new position.”  

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Seattle YWCA, click here. 

Jessica Ramirez-Jefferson never saw herself having the right experience to work in a bank. After many years in the restaurant industry, she thought a banking career was out of reach, even as she wanted the stability that a career in financial services would offer. 

In October 2021, while researching courses to enhance her workforce skills, she found the BankWork$ career-readiness program with our partners in the Bay Area, Fremont Adult and Continuing Education.  She jumped at the chance, and started the free class that fall.  

For Jessica, the most impactful takeaway from BankWork$ was “a greater sense of self-encouragement,” she says. “I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses, and because everyone encouraged each other we quickly became a family. I was so surprised to see myself succeed.” A bi-lingual speaker fluent in English and Spanish, Jessica was particularly impressed by the diversity of her class, and noticed that “within our class, we had people who spoke eight different languages.” 

Her instructor, Michelle Branner, praises Jessica as “a model student. She came to class every day motivated to learn more. Her personal strength not only empowered her, but it also inspired others to achieve greatness. It was a pleasure to have her in class.” 

Like all graduates of a CareerWork$ program, Jessica attended a hiring fair with employer partners in her area immediately after her graduation ceremony. She was hired by Comerica Bank, and in her new role as a Customer Service Representative, she has felt fully equipped to handle her responsibilities. 

Jessica was moved by how much the program and her instructor embraced and accepted her. “It touches my heart that they look for people like me, and gave me that push-up to help me.  That I found the class makes me so grateful. When people care enough to make the world a better place, it’s a beautiful thing.” 

Jessica is thriving in her new career. “I open the bank myself; I do dual control [transactions requiring a greater level of approval], I’m meeting clients, I do it all.” Working with customers with disabilities has been a special highlight for her: “I’ve made great connections with a customer who has a service dog named Molly, who always comes right to my window to greet me!” Jessica looks forward to advancing in her career, and hopes to eventually move into the mortgage and loans department. 

To anyone thinking about signing up for BankWork$, Jessica says “try it out and see if you like it! You won’t know until you try. If you’re ready to find out who you really are, this class will help you get there. It definitely inspired me to go further in my career. I’m so honored to be part of a program that wants better for people in the world.” 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with FACE, click here.