By Colleen Watson

Are you a bright, detail orientated people person? If you say, yes, than a career as a bank manager might be for you. Good bank managers must handle people, products and processes with skill and finesse. Keeping all three balls in the air takes artistry. Juggling is not a prerequisite, but it does help.

Also in banking there are so many career areas from which one can choose. There are the small to medium sized community banks all the way to the international conglomerate banks. One can start at the front of the house helping customers or behind the scene in operations.

College degrees in business especially, finance and accounting is helpful for banking operation careers. Other degrees or no degree at all can be enough to start out as a teller. Accuracy in math or basic detail orientation plus good people skills could be enough to get a foot in the door. Begin good with processes and procedure are crucial to success in a banking career.

Elements of process are in all positions in banking. Some processes are driven by the need to comply with regulations. Other systems are specially designed to handle the uniqueness of banking corporations. Banking process is fluid in the way that one size does not fit all. Changes in federal or state regulation create change. The market also drives changes. Banking is not the same today as it was even a few years ago. Today one can buy mutual funds from a bank and have a checking account at a traditional Wall Street firm.

How does one become a senior bank manager?

A wonderful thing about banking is the promotions. One can work their way up the corporate ladder thru hard work, personal development, and good results.

Professional growth comes in two distinct ways. First is educational and second is experience. In both cases it is all about learning the system and processes.

According to Heidi Gesell, CEO and President of Cherokee Banks, "The hallmark of a great banking manager is the ability to understand and support the big picture/corporate vision." Successful managers are continually looking at ways to make the vision happen. The vision is the mission statement or vision statement of the bank. It is a concept that is behind the decisions made in any successful business.

Communications of the vision is critical in a banking manager. They understand that there is finite window of opportunity to create happy customers. It is critical to get back to the customers in a timely fashion. Integrity and responsiveness makes or breaks the reputation of a financial institution. Customers expect to receive the information when it was promised. People are what banking is all about. Creating levels of trust is paramount to a bank manager. Handling sensitive information and issues delicately is critical.

Typically it takes about 10 years of experience in banking to become a top-level executive. Proficiency in a variety of departments and an aptitude for managing people, products and processes is crucial. One must also be a strong communicator and possess the ability to understand and translate the big picture to various banking departments. Great bank managers evoke confidence in their employees and their customers.

So, there is such a thing as over-night success in a banking career…it just takes about ten years.