Renease Little, a Chicago native, always knew she wanted to work in the financial services sector, but didn’t know how to get started. After an eventful few years—a health scare that meant she had to leave her job, having a second child, and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic—she was ready for a career that could support her growing family. At the beginning of 2022, her New Year’s resolution was simple: try something new. After seeing a Facebook ad for BankWork$ at Association House of Chicago, Renease knew she had found an opportunity to move forward and revitalize her career. 

“I wanted to work in financial services, but I could never get an interview because of my lack of knowledge about cash handling,” said Renease. “September 2021 was when all my unemployment funds ended, and I was back to living at home with my mom and kids. I felt so lost. When I saw an ad for BankWork$, I thought that it might be able to help me finally launch my dream career in financial services.”  

Renease remembers beginning class as a new experience in professionalism. “At first, I was surprised I had to dress up for class. I had never done that for any role before, but I knew this would lead to a career to support my family so I went along with it. Slowly, I began to understand the culture of banks and the importance of being professional in class made more sense. I needed that character development,” notes Renease. “BankWork$ laid a foundation for me to start building myself back up again.”   

One of Renease’s biggest challenges in class was overcoming her nervousness. “My instructor never made me feel like I was asking a dumb question. She also taught me to slow down when I’m talking. I felt like she really cared about me as an individual and wanted to help me turn into a better version of myself.”  

BankWork$ instructors are used to supporting participants who are balancing the program with the realities and challenges of life, and who need support and encouragement to graduate. When Renease ran into a few hurdles while enrolled, Sherri Richardson, Renease’s instructor at Association House of Chicago, was ready to help her.  

“Only a few people knew I was doing the program. I kept it very quiet,” said Renease. “They knew I was chasing after a better life. I had support from my instructor, but my personal life kept blowing up. I’m so glad Sherri encouraged me to finish strong in the last couple of weeks. I want to thank her for seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself. It felt great to have someone who can see your possibility and wants to push you to go there.” 

Sherri Richardson speaks highly of Renease as a participant. “She was a great fit for the BankWork$ program,” said Sherri. “She always showed up to class with a positive attitude, ready to learn and participate, and support her classmates. She gave her best and put into action the tips and advice shared by her instructors and guest bankers. Renease’s desire to succeed and her willingness to work are two important traits that contributed to her success. Though she started her banking career a short time ago, she has already begun to give back to the program by sharing tips and experiences with other participants.” 

Upon graduating from BankWork$, Renease, like all BankWork$ or CareerWork$ Medical graduates, interviewed with local institutions looking to hire right away. “I had a friend who worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and she encouraged me to apply, although I had several other great interviews from the hiring fair, I ecstatically accepted their offer!” said Renease. 

Renease has been a Client Service Analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. since June 2022 and has recently moved into a new home with her family. “Waking up and being in my new place gives me joy, it makes me want to go forward and push through the day. My kids are my ultimate joy, they get me through the rough parts of life. There are so many things I’m happy for now.” 

When thinking about the most rewarding part of her new job, Renease’s answer is simple: freedom.  

“I’ve never had a job that made me feel equal. I already feel appreciated, I already feel like I’m needed and wanted there. It’s a great feeling to feel like you matter. So many jobs can make you feel replaceable, but it doesn’t feel like that here,” said Renease.  

Looking forward, Renease is excited to continue her new role and develop her skills within the financial services industry. She encourages anyone considering BankWork$ to give it a shot. “My New Year’s resolution got me to try the program, so what do you have to lose? Why miss out on an opportunity that could change your life? We all get scared sometimes, but you don’t know where you’re going to go unless you try. If you want it bad enough, and if you’re hungry for an opportunity like I was, BankWork$ can change your life.” 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Association House of Chicago, click here.  

After immigrating to the United States from India, Divya Singh Kushwah got a job in the US working in human resources, but her goal was always greater stability and a consistent schedule. In January 2021, after hearing about BankWork$ at A New Leaf in Phoenix, Arizona from friends, Divya decided to make a career change and start a new path for her family.  

“When I joined BankWork$, I knew nothing about the financial services industry,” said Divya. “I was beginning a totally new chapter of life, and it was overwhelming at first to learn so many different things. One of the reasons I loved the class so much was our instruction staff–I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor to help teach me everything. Whenever you’re trying to begin anything new, having mentors and guidance is so important to success.”   

Divya’s instructor was Cheri Foschi, who has served as the BankWork$ instructor at A New Leaf since the class’s inception in 2016. “Cheri has stayed a mentor to me after I graduated. She’s always asking me about my current role and wants to stay in touch. We were virtual for the whole class due to the pandemic, but she adapted so well and built such a strong bond,” said Divya.  

Cheri remembers Divya as being an extraordinary student and a great class leader. “Divya is one motivated young lady. She is known for establishing rapport with her clients and is 100% committed to meeting their needs. Divya will give ya one hundred percent!” said Cheri. 

“Cheri gave us real-time scenarios to act out and learn from,” said Divya. “The mock interviews especially helped me strengthen my interviewing abilities, so I felt prepared for every question they asked. learned that it’s ok to ask lots of questions, and I’ve grown to be proud of my Indian accent.” 

After graduating from BankWork$, Divya, like all BankWork$ and CareerWork$ Medical graduates, attended a hiring fair with local financial institutions and was met with immediate success. “At the hiring fair I got sixteen job offers!” remarked Divya. In May 2021, Divya accepted a position at Bank of America as a Senior Client Executive. One year later, she was promoted to Senior Fraud Analyst, a role she loves.  

“In my current role I get to think like a detective,” said Divya. “You have to think so many ways of how fraud could have occurred, and you have to consider lots of different factors to protect the client as well as the financial institution. I do lots of background checks and am constantly learning new skills.” 

Bank of America has been a long-term supporter of BankWork$ and has hired hundreds of BankWork$ graduates. CareerWork$ is proud to highlight other BankWork$ alumni from around the country who have gone on to work at Bank of America, including Rozanna Vakhapova, DaVonte Poole, and Jennifer Berg.  

Divya encourages anyone considering BankWork$ to experience the program for themselves. “It was a new chapter for me. I didn’t have any idea how a financial institution worked. I had to learn new terminology, new skills, and how to deal with money. BankWork$ made it not only accessible, but enjoyable to learn!” said Divya.  

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with A New Leaf, click here. The next class begins on October 17, 2022.  

Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Rozanna Vakhapova immigrated to the United States by herself in 2009. She had dreams of developing a career in the financial services industry. After discovering BankWork$ and meeting instructor Julian Hampton at JVS SoCal, Rozanna knew she had found her pathway to her dream career.  

In September of 2020, after moving to Los Angeles, she signed up for the program. Rozanna says, “I was so excited to get accepted! I loved coming to class every day throughout the winter. My classmates came from all different places in life, but everyone shared a hunger for chasing a career.”   

Upon graduating from BankWork$, all graduates attend a hiring fair with local financial instructions. Rozanna describes the interviewing process as “feeling like a celebrity. I have never experienced getting to do six interviews in one day. BankWork$ had trained me well for all their specific interview questions and I had answers prepared. I felt so confident in my abilities.”  

In February 2021, Rozanna accepted a position with Bank of America, starting as a Relationship Banker. She enjoys all the opportunities working at Bank of America has given her. “Every day I speak to different people. I also get to do many volunteer events through Bank of America. Every Saturday, I go to different foundations, where we teach financial skills to children.  I’m also getting to take classes with my support team. I love working with clients and meeting so many different kinds of people. I remember the location where I first opened my Bank of America account; now I want to make sure all my clients remember me.” Rozanna is now the Relationship Manager Business Owner Specialist, and provides financial expertise for small business clients.  

Rozanna credits BankWork$ Instructor Julian Hampton for being a key figure in shaping her career. “Julian is an amazing mentor. He always knows the words to say to give you perfect life advice. I’m so happy he’s impacted so many people that were not sure about themselves. He taught me to ask questions and be willing to learn.”  

Julian also speaks highly of Rozanna, saying, “Rozanna was a stellar student who consistently yearned for knowledge. As much as I pushed her to be her best, she also pushed me to be my best by asking questions and looking for the reason behind the answer. She would look up articles and videos about the economy and historical events and share them with me. This is what made Rozanna a joy to teach. She has brought the longing for knowledge to Bank of America and used it to advance. I couldn’t be prouder of her.” 

Looking forward to her future, Rozanna is excited to continue to develop relationships and help her clients at Bank of America. Rozanna recently spoke at the last JVS SoCal graduation, congratulating the newest group of graduates. She commends BankWork$ for giving her the drive to pursue excellence. “Bankwork$ taught me to go the extra mile; whether that be calling back a customer, helping my coworkers, or staying focused to achieve a goal, I’m grateful for the skills I’ve learned from my time at BankWork$.”  

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

When Fiorella Reyes first came to the United States, she was passionate about pursuing a career in the financial services industry. Born and raised in Venezuela, she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to study English, and decided to try to find an opportunity in banking in January 2020.   

“At the time I was looking for a program to get into banking, but they were all so expensive. When I found an ad for BankWork$ at Employ Milwaukee, I couldn’t believe that it was free,” says Fiorella. She was excited for this new opportunity to develop her skills in finance and saw it as an investment in herself. “I sacrificed some time to do the program, and it totally paid off to get me where I am now in my career.” 

For Fiorella, who had previously had banking experience in Venezuela, her biggest challenge was making her resume stand out—and that’s where the BankWork$ curriculum was key. “In the class, they helped me strengthen my resume and showed me what recruiters were looking for. The interview practice we did gave me the confidence I needed to apply for jobs. I learned how to build my interview answers from beginning to end with vivid detail.” This extensive resume building and mock interview practice is a core part of every CareerWork$ program, so graduates leave the program ready to succeed in new careers. After their graduation ceremony, Fiorella attended a hiring fair with local financial instructions looking to bring on new talent immediately. She ended up with eleven different offers and accepted a role as a Personal Banker with Wells Fargo. “I enjoy working for Wells Fargo. I’m still friends with my previous managers, I feel like I could call them anytime, and they would give me advice. I just started a new position as Small Business Banker, which has been exciting.”  

Like many BankWork$ graduates, Fiorella’s ability to speak multiple languages has been an asset on the job. She was initially nervous to apply due to a potential language barrier hindering her success, as she learned English later in life. “I have friends scared to apply because of the language barrier. I was too, but don’t be afraid, you can still find a path as I did. There are positions available such as a teller, where you don’t have to have a whole conversation in English at first, and speaking another language can be an advantage. The more that you train yourself, the better your English will get. Don’t be afraid to have an accent. Everyone from tellers to managers has one. At my current branch, everyone speaks at least one other language.” In fact, 52% of BankWork$ graduates speak two or more languages, and many community banks recognize how important multilingual staff can be to reduce barriers to banking.  

Fiorella’s instructor at Employ Milwaukee, Adrienne Wright, describes Fiorella as a joy to have in class. “Fiorella had her eyes on the prize early on to land a career in the financial services industry. I knew she would be successful in whatever role she accepted. She eventually landed a position at Wells Fargo and stayed in touch throughout her career. It was no surprise that she would move up in the company with her passion to help others and her dedicated work ethic. We are so proud. Fiorella is a stellar example of a BankWork$ graduate,” says Adrienne. 

Fiorella feels gratitude towards her former instructing team. “I’m very thankful. They helped me put in the work and provided great feedback. Adrienne reaches out to me every few months to check in. I can tell she loves her job, and I think that shows well in the success of all her students. I had to make a lot of sacrifices when I was in the program. I could have spent those months working, but what I was going before BankWork$ wasn’t leading to a career, just paying the bills. Thanks to the time I spent doing the work in Bankwork$, I can now say I have a career in financial services.”   

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

DaVonte Poole spent much of his early life filled with curiosity to see the world, but without the family or economic stability to fully stretch his wings. “I knew there was something more for me out there, that there were more than just the four corners of my Chicago block. I knew the world was bigger and I wanted to see it,” he said.  

After moving between different homeless shelters, he left Chicago for Alaska, where he discovered Covenant House of Alaska, a shelter in Anchorage. In Alaska, he worked several jobs in retail and hospitality—but one person changed DaVonte’s life. At NuVision Credit Union, DaVonte met LeeAnthony Jenkins, who recommended he joined their credit union and learn about the possibilities of working in the financial services industry. “From day one, LeeAnthony challenged me to learn everything I can about the financial Industry, and I accepted the challenge head on! He truly inspired me because I didn’t know that it was possible for someone in the financial Industry to look like me” says DaVonte. 

After moving back to Chicago in 2017, while he was also taking the Dovetail Project, a program for high-risk fathers to understand their importance in the lives of their children, DaVonte discovered the BankWork$ program at Association House of Chicago. He knew his limited interview and office experience was limiting his professional opportunities, and felt BankWork$ could give him the tools necessary to go farther in his career in banking.  He loved learning about professional roles he could take on. 

“The BankWork$ curriculum included panels of program alumni speaking about their careers, and I appreciated the insights. Being able to hear others’ stories of what they went through in the industry gave me tools to put in my toolbelt. I was constantly taking notes about every little thing.”  

After graduation, like all BankWork$ graduates, DaVonte attended a career fair with employers looking to hire. Wanting to learn from the ground level of how money moves as a teller, he interviewed for a position at a call center for Bank of America. “I had a great interview, and they offered me a position.” After eight months as a teller, he was promoted to a banker. 

After two years of working with Bank of America, DaVonte accepted a new job at Credit Union One as a personal banker, where he became interested in mortgages and credit cards. ” As a Banker, one of your primary roles is to achieve sales goals through providing loans. When I was at Credit Union One, I was able to sell over a million dollars in loan value, which was one of the highlights of my career.” In his next career move to BMO Harris, he developed skills in commercial and business lending. “I wanted to be multi-faceted when it comes to financial services.” 

In May 2022, DaVonte accepted a new role as Assistant Branch Manager at PNC Bank and is looking forward to supporting the next generation of bankers.  “I’m excited about this new job! I want to be able to train a new team of bankers. I know what it takes to be a banker, and I know the habits in order to be successful. If I’m given the opportunity to multiply myself, I know can take a branch to the next level. Hopefully, we can do some great things.”  

As DaVonte reflects on his career, he credits a combination of his own drive and the BankWork$ training he received. ‘Any time I received a no, I felt like I had to sharpen my toolset. I looked at myself in the mirror to figure out what was going on. You have to be your biggest motivator; when you are, nothing someone can say will knock you off your path. People told me I was crazy for wanting to be a banker. External supports can be few and far between on the road to success. I’m thankful for BankWork$ because it gives opportunities to individuals who would otherwise not even think about stepping into this industry. Because BankWork$ didn’t give up on me, I didn’t give up on myself.” 

DaVonte started off with very little encouragement in his career in the financial services industry, but through perseverance, determination, and confidence he has worked his way from BankWork$ graduate to Assistant Branch Manager. We are so excited to see how DaVonte continues to make an impact on the financial services industry. Congratulations on your continued advancement in your career, DaVonte! 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Association House of Chicago, click here.