2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition Journal

FIRST PLACE: The University of Tennessee at Martin

expand their expertise. Opportunities for staff to seek additional education are often external to the company, and many opportunities are offered in-person or online. Programs attended by staff and senior leaders, such as those offered by the Tennessee Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, or universities, are an investment by CBTC. Furthermore, senior leaders who gain knowledge by participating in advanced programs, such as the Cannon Financial Institute for trust personnel, share their passion for banking and leadership skills by hosting internal training sessions that allow other employees to become educated in effective banking practices (Davis et al., March 29, 2023). Development for New Staff To develop new bankers, CBTC utilizes multiple resources to train new hires, and experienced employees are intentionally paired with new staff members to act as mentors and teachers. Mentorships provide new staff with opportunities to gain experience without the fear of making mistakes. More importantly,

participating in mentorships allows CBTC’s senior staff members to impart not only their expertise but also the culture and passion of CBTC. Participating in mentorships also allows for new employees to help the company progress, and while employees are still new to CBTC, they are encouraged to offer new perspectives. Aside from in-house mentorships, new staff are often encouraged to participate in a wide range of classes and training programs. These programs can range from training courses and peer conferences sponsored by Tennessee Bankers Association and American Bankers Association to more advanced educational opportunities such as Graduate School of Banking programs, Tennessee Bankers Association sponsored schools of banking, and customer service courses that will prepare these new bankers for their job duties. Moreover, if a specific employee is hired because he is knowledgeable with a specific job task, he will be trained and asked to participate in developmental programs that will extend his knowledge regarding that specific area of expertise. Additionally, if widely accepted banking processes change, employees are encouraged to attend trainings and peer conferences that will update their knowledge. Primarily, every developmental program CBTC requests that employees attend is financed by the bank at no costs to the employees (Davis et al., personal communication, March 29, 2023). CBTC strives to develop its staff to be prepared, educated, and to operate as effectively as possible, regardless of the costs to the bank.

Aside from in-house mentorships, new staff are often encouraged to participate in a wide range of classes and training programs.

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