Pros
Excellent training Excellent exposure to all aspects within banking Benefits are great; 401k and health benefits. Depending on location, commission can be great. Handful of genuine and great managers that seek to help and mentor their subordinates into the right direction and growth.
Cons
Promotion guidelines - This is solely based upon someone elses opinion. As a banker, you can be number one in your branch and you may consistently bring in great business and close on your deals (whether being retail, investment, mortgage, or business banking), but ultimately this does not allow you to apply and seek growth within the company. You will not move from your position easily because the manager will not want to lose your production, therefore if you approach this in a way he/she does not approve, you can pretty much focus on making commission but you can kiss your hope of going anywhere within your market goodbye. Retail Management - While this statement cannot be generalized to most managers, it may apply to a vast majority of them. There are too many managers that have been promoted to this position simply because of their gross exploitation of a certain demographic within a market. Many managers are in this position and they would not be successful bankers themselves, yet they are there to manage and improve a bankers performance, What goes to say that the same banker they are criticizing would do a much better job when put on the same playing field?. It can be simply stated that while there are many successful bankers that will never be good/decent manager, there are also managers that will never be great bankers. Managing cannot be earned by selling; selling is one thing, management of adults is another. Many managers have mastered the art of managing people and make their workplace a pleasurable experience but most have a sweat shop mentality and fail to treat people with dignity and respect.