I used to work for CIBC...Ask me anything

[Coke355mL]

You have 4 weeks from your date of hire to complete all of the regulatory courses. They are 40 internet based classes that take about 1.5 hours to complete each. After each course there is a test. If you fail the test it gets recorded and your manager sees it. It's quite nerve wracking. The ABM will try and get you to finish the courses well within 3 weeks and then have you watch another teller for about 1-2 weeks and then you're on your own.

Again, you failed to do your research. Anti-money laundering rules, privacy, security, etc.. being at the forefront of handling and interacting with customers, you're going to be required to pass a number of regulatory courses. Also, the last I heard, not all 40 courses are mandatory and while it is suggested it takes 1.5 hours to complete, you can complete them usually in half hour for each course. For these reasons, I cannot see how CIBC is dysfunctional when it comes to their retail branch operations.

The learning curve is insane because COINS (CIBC's system) is like MS DOS and incredibly slow, and difficult to operate.

Actually, CIBC made significant investment spend on rebuilding their retail banking platform in early 2000, introducing an n-tiered services based architecture framework. Previously, they were using mainframe telnet terminals to perform transactions, which would interact directly with a mainframe server. The 'ms-dos' like experience and slowness you are referring to is known as "greenscreens", which involes many steps just to do 1 thing. However, as I recall, perhaps their biggest decision flaw in overhauling their retail banking platform was their choice to keep green-screen experience so that it would have minimal impact on the end users. The intention, given the new architecture and infrastructure in place, is to easily replace the presentation layer with a new GUI when CIBC was prepared to fund it. However, it's been over a decade since. If there are any performance issues then it could be attributed to the outdated technology and the scalability of the infrastructure has reached its maximum due to growth.

If you consistently do not meet your sales targets you most often get terminated. If you have a nice ABM he will help you with your sales technique but often low sales are beyond a CSR's control. If the branch is busy and only 2 people are working the last thing on your mind is trying to make a sale, it's about moving the line along so a complaint isn't filed. The maximum wait time per customer is 3 minutes, anything more than that and the the branches rating will go down. The branch is audited and "mystery shopped" 4 times per year. If you fail the "shop" you are most often terminated.

Again, it was your decision to not sell. Your job is to sell, not move the line. If a complaint is filed, it's not your problem because the BM failed to resource the branch appropiately. If the BM gives you pressure, you need to learn to grow a backbone and push back and advise the BM that you either sell and keep customers waiting or you move the line, or lower the sales targets - until he/she can properly staff the branch. BTW, Mystery shopped is not uncommon in ALL sales functions - it has nothing to do with CIBC being dysfunctional.

At my branch we were not allowed to sit at all and we were grossly under staffed. I would stand for 7 hours, come home with an aching back and then get screamed at the next day by my ABM about why I only had 1 sale instead of 2. Some banks are better about this. TD is also very sales oriented. RBC does not require tellers to make sales. They simply process transactions, which takes the stress out of the job, it's fantastic.

Most sales positions do not allow people to sit - they're standing and talking to customers and it promotes professionalism. Many people stand for 7 hours working various jobs and don't complain about it. Grow up. Also, get it in your head that every CSR is required to sell - while different banks will set a mandate, others will just encourage it and it really comes down to each individual branch.

Well, CIBC is ranked last out of the big 5 banks. Why? They're grossly behind in technology and are too cheap to fix it.

Seriously, how much do you know about CIBC to make a blanket statement with no supporting facts? CIBC has been a laggard mainly because of the lack of strategic direction and the high profile in-fighting and continuous restructuring at the executive ranks. Aside from that, a significant reason is because of the under performance from its foreign operations, including its US based operations, as well as their huge credit run-offs. The fact that they had some legal issues also did not bode well for them but those were the least of their worries.

Secondly, there is such a high turnover rate of employees. People hate working for CIBC because they pay the lowest out of all the banks and if you don't meet your targets you often don't get any bonus.

Again, your statement should be directed to the CSR position only. While CIBC may pay its CSR's the lowest, we're talking about a matter of cents, or a dollar at most (per hour rate). You even admitted this yourself that the pay for the CSR role is about the same. When you look at the difference, that is insignificant espcially when you factor in taxes. So there's no sense in complaining about it. Also, it was your choice to work there in the first place. If you don't like the pay, then you should've worked elsewhere.

... I was doing the job of like 3 people, doing overtime and not getting paid for it (hence so many class actions), and having an ABM that had less education than myself.

You may be ignorant or you failed to mention that the class action lawsuits were dismissed 2 years a go. There was no evidence to support the claim that all employees at the branch level were affected. Also, the reference to not getting paid overtime, although it may be true in some cases, was not the case for all. Also, it was only ONE class action lawsuit. The other legal issues had nothing to do with unpaid overtime.

Instead of getting in a temp teller we were left with 2 tellers for 3 months so that means no lunch breaks (not allowed). I left everyday with a splitting headache. How is it possible to sell if you have like 250+ transactions in a day and lineups with 30 people. Nightmare.

While I find it difficult to believe that any branch would run its operations with only 2 CSR's for 3 months, I find it even harder to believe that you were not allowed lunch. The employment standards act require employers to allow time for lunch - even if you were a part time employee - working an entire day with no lunch break are grounds for an independent lawsuit. Either way, you should've had a backbone and discuss this with your management and escalate if necessary.

That's the problem, obviously some branches are a lot better than others. I was at the main branch for CIBC in CANADA and everyone I spoke with admitted having the same problems. This is why CIBC is ranked lowest out of all the other banks.

You honestly believe CIBC is ranked 4th out of the big banks because of internal issues at some of its branches? As I clarified in my previous comments, CIBC is not 4th because of its nazi-like working environment at some of its branches. To say that is the reason or even a contributing reason is just plain ignorant.

150-200 EJ's is fine if you have decent people working with you, the ability to sit and get paid overtime if needed. We didn't even get lunch breaks and were threatened to be fired if we didn't get x amount of sales.

I find it hard to believe that CIBC will just simply fire people because they did not meet their sales targets. The fact is, you have to consistently keep missing your targets before they can let you go. I also find it hard to believe that the BM's and ABM's would give a direct threat to their staff. What I am more inclined to believe is that the sales teams are advised that it was critical to meet the sales target. The notion of dismissal was likely perceived on your own accord given the demands.

That's just morally wrong, but it happens all the time. If you're a CFP (which most people aren't, you have the fiduciary responsibility to only "make a sale" in the interest of your client and not push products...

The same could be argued that CSR's have a fiduciary responsibility to make recommendations/make aware to customers of products that could meet their needs.

Sure, CIBC is drastically trying to keep up with Scotia and BMO. They have the hopes of being no. 2 within 1 year...Not possible. They're ranked lowest on client satisfaction, and lowest in assets.

As far as I know, CIBC has never set its target goal to become the number 2 bank, nor would they even plan to do this in 1 year. CIBC's leadership teams follow the SMART objectives principle so I find it hard to believe that CIBC would have such goal or vision - and even more into question, where you are getting information from.

[Coke355mL]

They don't make a lot. 99 percent of them cannot trade in any kind of derivative product and they are grossly limited to the products that cibc offers.

Do you even understand derivatives trading? Do you honestly think customers on the street would want to trade in derivatives or even understand it? They're primarily used to hedge risk. Branches will push the bank's products - customers have a choice to go with the branch's choices or go with their own investment decisions and product choices and do their own self-directed trading with CIBC, or through the full serviced channels.

We're supposed to get people in an office for the FSR to do a checking account upgrade, savings accounts, GIC's, Credit cards (that's the big one for us), if you see an opportunity probe for a mortgage. You're not allowed to discuss anything to do with mutual funds or stocks/bonds, even though I am licensed as a registered representative with IIROC but am obviously only working as a teller.

As a CSR, your role does not allow you to make any recommendations or have any conversations on investments. Does not matter if you're licensed. That is someone else's job. Most CSR's do not have their registration and as such, you cannot have a conflict of interest between roles. Customers should only be talking to the appropiate person in that role. As a CSR, you are not in that position.

How did I get the job? I slept with someone that worked in Capital Markets. She was kind enough to put in a great word for me (lol) and I used her as a referral.

Again, you have got to get out of your immature mind that sleeping your way around is a good way of making it. You'll learn quickly that this only gets you a job that everyone else can get without sleeping with someone.

CIBC is well known as the worst bank, especially in how they treat their employees. There are several class action lawsuits right now. We were not paid for overtime, often didn't get lunch breaks and were forced to stand all day, not allowed any stool or anything

None of the class action lawsuits have to do with unpaid overtime right now. Being force to stand all day is the same at almost every bank and does not qualify as an arguement for CIBC being the worst bank.

I quit because 2 people randomly quit one day and we were grossly short-staffed. They would make me come in with no notice and do the job of 3 people. I'd leave everyday with a splitting headache and my manager was a pain in the butt that didn't even have a college diploma or university degree.

You don't need to have a university degree to be a manager. Skills and experience will trump university education. I know a person who doesn't have a university degree and makes WELL into the 6 figure range, base salary alone.

They do pay the lowest out of all the banks, have the worst service, and most backwards computer system. Seriously, it's freaking MS-DOS and it breaks down constantly. Once the computers were down for 3 hours during the day. I had to explain this to people and they wanted to like spit on me, they couldn't believe it.

Again, you don't know the difference between MS-DOS and mainframe terminal windows. Also, like you said yourself, the pay is roughly the same for the CSR role. It doesn't matter when we're talking about such a small difference.

[GunnerX]

Time to move on. I think the troll is gone.

[Demonoid]

Coke355mL, are you some kind of CIBC PR person ?

[aclm88]

I am in my last year in Uni (taking up IT specializing in Business Analysis) It's not far from finance or any money-related field really as I get to study accounting and finance as well. I also have years of experience in customer service and sales, and I would like to work at a financial institution, just to get my foot in the door (I want to focus more into business rather than IT).

My question is: HOW DO I GET A CSR/TELLER JOB AT ANY BANK?

I thought of faxing my resume directly to the HR department of any bank. HR fax/telephone numbers, however are not available for public. I even called the main office of Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, TD to ask for their HR fax/tel number but they don't want to give it to me.Whenever banks post a job position online, I immediately apply for it. But I have been doing it for years now, and I have not received a single call from them. I don't even think employers look at their online database anymore.

I have heard that most of the time, it's not about WHAT you know in order to get a job. It's about WHO you know. ALL my family members are in the medical field, they mostly work in either hospital or a clinic. So it's hard for me to find someone who can hook me up for a job at a bank.

How will I get a job at a bank? Should I call the branch managers and tell them I'm interested in the position? Mail the main office my resume and cover letter? E-mail the main office my resume and cover letter? Please help!?

Thanks!

[jungeon]

How much does a cibc district branch manager make?

[storybrook]

I am in my last year in Uni (taking up IT specializing in Business Analysis) It's not far from finance or any money-related field really as I get to study accounting and finance as well. I also have years of experience in customer service and sales, and I would like to work at a financial institution, just to get my foot in the door (I want to focus more into business rather than IT).

My question is: HOW DO I GET A CSR/TELLER JOB AT ANY BANK?

I thought of faxing my resume directly to the HR department of any bank. HR fax/telephone numbers, however are not available for public. I even called the main office of Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, TD to ask for their HR fax/tel number but they don't want to give it to me.Whenever banks post a job position online, I immediately apply for it. But I have been doing it for years now, and I have not received a single call from them. I don't even think employers look at their online database anymore.

I have heard that most of the time, it's not about WHAT you know in order to get a job. It's about WHO you know. ALL my family members are in the medical field, they mostly work in either hospital or a clinic. So it's hard for me to find someone who can hook me up for a job at a bank.

How will I get a job at a bank? Should I call the branch managers and tell them I'm interested in the position? Mail the main office my resume and cover letter? E-mail the main office my resume and cover letter? Please help!?

Thanks!

Hey there, I am a new business college graduate and we've been told that if you want to get a job in the bank, dress up professionally and just walk into any branch. Ask for the branch manager, and sometimes they interview you on the spot. If not, then you will get a phone interview in 2 days. This is actually working because 3 of my classmates got their job this way (now 1 works at RBC and 2 work at Scotiabank).

I also did the online application for years, never got any response.... nothing. Just an email about 2-3 months after my application that "sorry, you're not the right candidate".....

Anyway, if you are still looking for a CSR/Teller position, I hope this helps.

[projectmoonlightcafe]

Let me get this straight...the OP slept his way into a teller position????

[flyguy1104]

Can couples work at same branch? I know a couple who works at same branch, I know a lot of companies are not encouraged or disallowed this. What about in CIBC?

[Beans1234]

Let me get this straight...the OP slept his way into a teller position????

I know right? That's like sleeping your way into getting to be a team member at McDonald's. Pay is about the same too!

[SuperGameBoy]

This is an old thread but it's pretty funny. OP was a jaded ex-employee that lasted 7 months in the lowest bank position next to the toilet scrubbers. To top it off, he only got the job cause he slept with someone he met over the Internet.