Branch Apprenticeship Program

Consumers Credit Union's (CCU) Branch Apprenticeship Program offers paid work experience while fully supporting you earning an associate degree. Apprentices can build a wonderful career in financial services while launching their college experience! CCU's Branch Apprenticeship Program helps build talent for our banking branch locations in Northern Illinois. We see this program as a great way to infuse the branch network with fresh talent and new ideas while helping individuals establish a career path, earn money, and get their associate degree covered 100%!! We are seeking recent high school graduates (will consider upcoming class of 2025 grads) and career changers that have not yet started college coursework toward a degree or have completed just a few credits.

Does it sound too good to be true? It's true - we promise! See the details below to learn more!

• 2-year program (6 semesters, including two summers)
• Attend classes to complete your Associate of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Degree at College of Lake County (CLC)
• Employment starts July 2025. Classes at CLC start August 2025.
• Gain work experience in the financial services industry by working as a Branch Apprentice in our banking branches starting in Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, Gurnee, and Kildeer. You will learn branch operations, customer service skills, and sales techniques as you perform teller and personal banker responsibilities.
• You will dedicate 40 hours per week to this paid opportunity with work and school combined. Part of the week you will be in the branch working and learning, the other part of the week you will attend college classes with our other Apprentices.
• We will pay you an hourly rate + you will be eligible for benefits + eligible to earn incentives and an annual bonus for working in the branch. We will also cover your tuition, books, and fees while you're enrolled in the CLC Associate Degree program!
• During the program you will be assigned a mentor and will be provided with developmental opportunities. You may even be eligible for a promotion to Sr Branch Apprentice and a pay increase based on your performance!
• Apprentices are required to maintain passing grades of 'C' or higher and meet all job-related CCU performance expectations throughout the duration of the program.
• The goal is to successfully prepare you to grow your career in the branch network, ultimately working your way to an Assistant Branch Manager and Branch Manager in the future. Or maybe there is another area of the Credit Union that will appeal to you such as Lending, Sales, or New Accounts.

About the Branch Apprentice position

As a Branch Apprentice, you will become a master working in a hybrid role! This position is a combination of being a Concierge, Teller, and Personal Banker. You'll provide outstanding service while greeting members (Concierge), performing financial transactions (Teller), opening accounts (Personal Banker) and educating members on our products and services! This is an ideal position especially if you're interested in banking/financial services, being in a member-facing role with the ability to learn about branch operations, and are looking for growth opportunities.

Your day-to-day activities will include greeting members as they enter the branch or use the drive up lanes; assisting members with their self-service transactions by educating them on the interactive teller machine (ITM) and its related functions; assisting with teller transactions, member service issues, account maintenance, and other operational duties assigned by the Branch Manager and/or Assistant Branch Manager; opening new consumer accounts efficiently and accurately; identifying opportunities to refer members to additional products/services including consumer loan and mortgage products, as well as wealth advisors; seeking out and making recommendations for process improvements related to member service delivery and other branch efficiencies; ensuring adherence to all policies, procedures, compliance, audits, quality control and balancing standards.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent + minimum age of 18 by July 1, 2025
• 1+ year of work experience in retail, customer service, guest relations, sales, and cash handling
• Desire to build a career in the banking/financial services industry
• Intermediate computer skills (MS office, data entry, intranet/internet, email)
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment
• Strong desire to learn at work and in the classroom
• Collaboration and teamwork skills
• Ability to dedicate 40 hours to work and school Monday-Friday
• Acceptance into College of Lake County's Associates of Applied Sciences program

Compensation & Benefits

Budgeted amount for starting salary: $19/hr + eligible to earn incentives and an annual bonus

Consumers Credit Union provides eligible employees an opportunity to participate in our medical (High Deductible, HMO and PPO), dental, vision, spending accounts, short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance and other plans effective date of hire. You will be eligible to participate in the 401(k) savings plan at any time. You will be automatically enrolled in the pension plan following six months of employment and 1,000 hours of service and reaching age 20.

For more information about benefit offerings, please visit our careers page: https://www.myconsumers.org/about/what-we-do/careers

Join us at our Apprenticeship Open House to meet current Branch Apprentices, Branch Leaders, and Recruiters.

• Thursday, March 13^th, drop in anytime between 4 - 7 PM.
• CCU Corporate Office: 300 N. Field Drive, Lake Forest, IL
• Reserve your spot by adding your name to the guest list

* Apply Soon! Interviews begin in early April. Hiring decisions will be made by April 28^th *

About CCU

Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, Consumers Credit Union (CCU) has $4 billion in assets and serves more than 220,000 members, making it one of the largest credit unions in the state. CCU believes that nobody needs banks on every corner, but everyone needs people who are in their corner. To learn more, visit myconsumers.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

CCU complies with the requirements and spirit of the law in the implementation of all facets of equal opportunity in employment. There will be no discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, genetic information, military status (including unfavorable discharge from the military), criminal or arrest history (unless job related), crime victim status, or any other protected characteristic in the recruitment, selection, training, utilization, promotion, termination, or any other employment actions or term and condition of employment. CCU complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which CCU has facilities.

We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact our Human Resources team at: HR_Dept@myconsumers.org or 877-275-2228.