ABA today announced a new partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation intended to expand hiring opportunities for veterans across the nation. The partnership will enable more community banks to participate in the foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship program, which allows transitioning service members and military spouses to intern with private sector employers for up to 12 weeks. Since the program started in 2015, 92% of fellowships have resulted in offers for permanent employment.
Through the partnership, ABA will work with Hiring Our Heroes to match interested banks with Corporate Fellowship opportunities in their region. At a panel discussion during the convention, ABA Chairman Laurie Stewart—president and CEO of Sound Community Bank in Seattle—shared her bank’s success story with the program. The bank hired Anthony Tran, a Marine Corps veteran transitioning out of the military, as a fellow, and he remains a full-time employee of the bank today.
“We are so happy with Anthony and what he has brought to the bank that we have already signed up for another Corporate Fellow,” said Stewart. “I strongly encourage other banks to consider participating in Hiring Our Heroes because veterans can help your bank in so many ways.” Tran’s story was also the focus of a new ABA video spotlighting the program.