July 18, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Central Bank.

Almost two years after his sister suggested he consider applying to be a bank teller at Central Bank, Fidele Nimbona has no regrets.

“I didn’t know anything about banking, but I said I’d give it a shot and see how it goes,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you have experience or not. You will have knowledge once you join Central Bank.”

As a teller at the bank’s Western Avenue location, Nimbona has learned on the job and discovered he enjoys the industry.

The 2011 Lincoln High School grad who earned a degree in criminal justice from Southeast Technical College came to Sioux Falls from Africa in 2007 not knowing any English.

 Today, he’s not only fluent but also speaks the language of banking.

“The people who trained me were great,” he said. “I have a very good relationship with everybody, and they make me feel like I’m part of the team.”

 Nimbona worked in the nonprofit world and as a substitute teacher before joining the bank. It’s one of many paths people take to become tellers, said Molly Jackson, a branch manager.

“They come from completely different walks of life,” she said. “Everyone loves Fidele, and he’s been a big asset to our staff.”

Tellers do much more than people think, she added.

“There’s a misconception of what tellers do. They don’t just take deposits and withdrawals. There’s a high level of customer service in addition to supporting other departments.”

For lead teller Jessica Mayfield, who joined Central Bank about a year ago, it has been a positive career move.

“I was working at a different company and just not liking it when I stumbled on Central Bank. I knew they were new to Sioux Falls and growing, so it intrigued me,” she said. “I was able to interview and start right away. Everyone was extremely nice and welcoming.”

 Her responsibility has grown in the past year, including working on fraud alerts and internal audits.

“I definitely like the culture here,” Mayfield said. “There’s room for advancement, and everyone has been so helpful in everything from personal to career development. This is a great role to get your foot in the door, see different areas and determine what you want to do.” 

As a mother of a 4-year-old and wife of a firefighter, she appreciates Central Bank’s family-driven culture.

“They’ve been great if I need the flexibility to pick up my daughter early or stay home with her if she’s sick. I’ve worked places where that isn’t the case, and it causes more stress than it needs to,” she said.

Mayfield is a perfect example of someone who started as a teller but is finding new ways  to grow, Jackson said.

“She’s one of the hardest workers I know. She knows her customers and knows all the policies. I rely heavily on her when I have questions. If she doesn’t know an answer, she finds it and takes responsibility,” Jackson said. “She’s working her way up in the organization and will have many opportunities for growth.”

Sam Cooey is just weeks into his Central Bank career but already seeing paths to advancement. The Sioux Falls native is a recent graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato and is part of Central’s trainee program. He’s beginning as a teller and will rotate through other areas of the bank to find the right career fit.

“I had a job at a very small bank in college, and I’ve worked at a very large one. So, for me, Central seemed like a great fit because it’s a more local bank but still large to allow for a lot of opportunities and growth,” he said.

“So far, it’s been great. Everyone has been welcoming, and the culture is really awesome. The tellers here have more responsibility than in my previous job, so I’m learning a lot.”

A teller role at Central Bank can be everything from a great college job to a rewarding role for someone looking for a job with strong benefits and family-friendly schedules, Jackson said.

“We need people who are reliable and enjoy working with others,” she said. “If you have banking or cash management experience, that’s very helpful and will be reflected in your starting pay. We also are willing and enjoy training people from the ground up who want to learn more and connect with this industry.”

 As a manager, “I look at my job as an opportunity to help develop people and make sure we’re removing obstacles for them,” Jackson added. “Whether it’s staying in the teller line or moving to different areas of the bank, we want to empower you with the tools you need to be successful.”

That definitely has been the case for Nimbona, who has connected so strongly to the bank that he encouraged others to become customers. 

“As a teller, at first I didn’t know anything, and now I can talk to people about banking,” he said. “This is a place to grow, that’s for sure.”

 To learn more about current opportunities, stop in any Central Bank location or click here. 

Central Bank is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Member FDIC.