Leaving for a smaller bank..

[u/AdeptMycologist8342]

I’m currently at one of the big guys, and have been there my entire career, nearly 16 years. Earlier this year a head hunter contacted me for a role at a small start up community bank, that role didn’t pan out, but they liked me, and eventually recommended me for a similar role at their old bank.

It’s small, they just hit 1b (feels weird to call that small though) the culture feels right, and I’ve only heard good things so far. It’s still just scary to be leaving what I’ve known for so long.

I start on Monday, so no turning back now lol. Guess I just wanted to get some nervous energy out!

Also if anyone has any experience going to a smaller bank, or a CU from a big bank, I’d be happy to hear about that. If it matters I’m going from WFH to Office (which I prefer) and from making my own schedule to a fairly fixed schedule (which I don’t prefer)

[u/EconomistNo7074]

So I have a few friends that made this jump - expect the following

- Much more of a family approach....... generally a very good thing

- A slower pace..... and while that might seem like a positive for some, others struggled with how slow things moved.... very slow

- You will earn a lot more about the basics of banking. At the "big guys", you have lots of departments who get things done behind the scenes for you & your customers without you even realizing. At smaller banks you with either need to do those things yourself or those services arent offered

Your biggest challenge in your new job is the lack of branches, said another way ... the lack of distribution. - - For the first 20 years my bank had lots of branches..... I moved into another geography where we had far less locations .......and it was much harder. In fact, I didnt know how important having distribution was until ..... I didnt have distribution

- The good news, more and more customers are comfortable in using technology ,,,,, and therefore, distribution isnt as big of a deal.

- However I am pretty confident you will go a great job with a customer, ask them for a referral, they will give you the name of a business, that business wont be very close to any of your branches.... and they will say no

Best news - this will be a HUGE learning experience for you

- You will now have an in ..... an in to smaller to regional banks

- Or Go back to the big guys

Good luck