Bankwork$

In 2023, SchermCo partnered with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont to support the launch of the BankWork$ initiative in Charlotte—a nationally recognized workforce development program designed to prepare individuals for careers in the banking and financial services industry. This partnership focused on strategic planning, program management, and implementation to ensure a successful launch of the first cohort.

THE CHALLENGE

Goodwill was preparing to roll out BankWork$, an eight-week training program aimed at helping individuals build both hard and soft skills necessary for employment in financial institutions. While the curriculum and national framework existed, Goodwill required on-the-ground support to coordinate recruitment, staffing, stakeholder alignment, and launch logistics in Charlotte.

Key challenges included:

  • Recruiting and onboarding a qualified instructor with retail banking experience.
  • Coordinating with industry partners for job placements.
  • Ensuring sufficient participant recruitment and preparation.
  • Aligning program logistics with the BankWork$ national standards and local community needs.

Our Approach

SchermCo provided targeted support from March through July 2023, serving as the project management lead and implementation partner. Our contributions included:

  • Instructor Hiring Support: Assisted in posting and recruiting for the instructor role and aligning the onboarding process with BankWork$ requirements.
  • Participant Recruitment Strategy: Collaborated with local partners to recruit and prepare 15 participants for the first cohort.
  • Operational Planning: Led the coordination of timelines and logistics, including program launch, orientation, and informational sessions. The first cohort officially launched in September 2023.
  • Employer Engagement: Engaged local financial institutions to support lunch-and-learns, mock interviews, and job placement opportunities for participants.
  • Budget Planning: Developed cost-per-student and total program cost breakdowns to ensure transparency and funding alignment.

The Impact

The partnership culminated in a well-coordinated launch of the BankWork$ program in Charlotte, providing essential career training to a cohort of 15 participants. Outcomes from the first cohort include:

  • 94% Graduation Rate
  • 75% Employment Rate
  • $19.23 Average Hourly Wage

Sustainability

Goodwill has now completed seven BankWork$ cohorts. See below for additional impact data from each cohort. 

Cohort Number1234567
Graduation Rate94%

86%92%100%100%96%94%
Employment Rate75%61%48%71%37%44%–
Average Hourly Wage$19.23
$18.84$20.19$22.45$20.66$21.46–

*Cohort #7’s Employment Rate and Average Hourly Wage are omitted due to the class ending on May 15, 2025 

Overall Outcomes for all Cohorts

  • Graduation Rate: 95%
  • Employment Rate: 53%
  • Average Hourly Wage: $20.44

This initiative exemplified SchermCo’s commitment to workforce development, community empowerment, and operational excellence. Congratulations goes to the Goodwill staff for continuing to grow this initiative and to all of the graduates on their new career journeys.

“SchermCo’s leadership and active support provided the structure and energy necessary for us to confidently launch BankWork$. Their team effectively coordinated the implementation, hiring, partner management, and mapping of employer partnerships. Their involvement was crucial in successfully launching this program.”

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