Employer representatives from Banner Bank and Sound Community Bank met with BankWork$ Fundamentals graduates during the Seattle hiring fair. Photo courtesy of CareerWork$

SEATTLE, WA — There is a powerful shift happening in the Seattle banking sector, and it is being driven by a group of determined, skilled individuals ready to change the face of the financial industry.

CareerWork$ is thrilled to announce the graduation of our latest BankWork$ Fundamentals (BWF) cohort. Not only is this group stepping into the professional world with industry-specific training, but they have also made history: to date, this is our biggest cohort ever, boasting an incredible 29 graduates. Of those graduates, 12 participated through our Washington State partnership, demonstrating the growing demand for flexible, virtual workforce training that connects job seekers across the state to careers in banking.

A Historic Return to In-Person Connections

This graduation marked a massive milestone for the program, extending far beyond the record-breaking class size. For the first time since 2019, our banking partners were able to gather back in person to conduct a live, face-to-face hiring fair for the local graduates.

While virtual programming has kept us connected, nothing quite matches the energy, confidence, and human connection built during an in-person interview process. The room was buzzing with opportunity as graduates stood proud, ready to showcase the knowledge they spent the last eight weeks mastering.

Driven by Community, Hosted by Partners

The success of this historic cohort was made possible through the deep, unwavering commitment of our Seattle bank partners, who continue to prioritize opening doors for individuals from marginalized and underrepresented communities.

A huge thank you to Sound Community Bank for graciously hosting us for this momentous event. Alongside them, financial leaders from Wells Fargo and Banner Bank played major roles, showing up in force to interview our graduates and invest directly in local talent.

CareerWork$ staff and employer partners from Sound Community Bank celebrate the completion of CareerWork$’s largest BankWork$ Fundamentals cohort to date. Photo courtesy of Javon Willis Photography

The Next Chapter Begins

By connecting under-resourced talent with corporate partners who value diversity and skill, BankWork$ Fundamentals continues to prove that economic mobility starts with equitable access to careers.

We are immensely proud of all our graduates. They have put in the hard work, mastered the skills, and are officially ready to step into the financial sector as competitive, resilient professionals.

Interested in joining our next cohort or becoming an employer partner? Click the links below to learn how you can get involved with CareerWork$.