Magruder says the Banker Development Program is a critical component of Zions Bank’s future success.

“In order for Zions Bank to be able to continue its track record of success, we need to make sure we have a strong bench of invested and trained banking leaders who are well-rounded in their knowledge and have exposure and experience with various areas of the bank,” she says.

Magruder is currently recruiting program participants for January and June of 2022, and applications will be accepted through Oct. 15, 2021.

“We’re looking for recent college graduates and early professionals who are looking to grow their careers in the financial services industry,” Magruder explains. “We will equip them with knowledge and skills that they need to become officers of the bank.”

The program has two phases. In the three-month training phase, analysts learn about a wide range of topics including credit, risk and how to communicate with clients, and are introduced to the executive leadership team.

Next, the analysts participate in three or four rotations with different departments, for a period of three months each.“

By the end of the program, they have seen multiple facets of our lending operations and also had exposure to understand where they want to grow,” Magruder says.

That hands-on experience was critical for Preston Overson, a credit analyst in Asset-based Lending. 

“During the program, I learned how to evaluate the performance and risk of a wide variety of commercial borrowers,” Overson explains. “It prepared me to excel in my current position and to understand key indicators of financial performance, which has helped our portfolio stay healthy.”

The rotation phase enabled Jake Macias, a financial analyst in the Practice Pathways professional practice lending group, to hone his focus.

“While I knew that Zions Bank was the right place to work, I didn’t know where within the bank I’d most like to land and start my career,” Macias explains. “The Banker Development Program provided me with the opportunity to explore various business lines to determine which would be the best fit for me.”

Once the analysts finish their rotations, Magruder says they are eligible for a promotion into officer positions in the different lending groups.

Jenn Dayton, a portfolio manager in the Community Banking department, says she uses the skills she gained in the program on a daily basis.

“Not only did I learn leaps and bounds about credit, risk management and banking in general, but I also grew personally through the leadership and career development side of the program,” she says. “There really is no comparison to the quality education, exposure, and experience that’s gained from the Banker Development Program.”

Magruder says the ideal candidate for the Banker Development Program will be:

• A lifelong learner who understands that gaining knowledge is part of development in a leadership position
• A well-rounded individual with both analytical and interpersonal skills
• A motivated self-starter, eager to learn everything they can 

“There are a lot of job opportunities out there, and it’s very hard to know exactly what you want to do,” Magruder says. “This allows you to essentially test drive your career to determine where you want to invest your time and grow.”

To learn more about open positions in the Zions Bank Banker Development Program, or to apply, visit Zions Bank’s Careers website.