Think working at a bank is dull and repetitive? Think again. ALM & Reporting Analyst Ho Chi and Treasury & ALM Specialist Wes know better than anyone that banking is anything but boring. They talk about the atmosphere at Brand New Day, the opportunities to grow and, of course, the Thursday afternoon drinks.
Room to grow and develop
Wes: “I started here as a working student and have grown into my current role,” Wes explains. “It’s the perfect place for entrepreneurial people with good ideas. You’re given a lot of responsibility from the start, which means you learn incredibly quickly.”
“I’d only been here for a month when I was already allowed to submit proposals involving fairly significant amounts of money. That really impressed me. It immediately made me feel like I was contributing. I still feel that way today. I’m part of the ALCO (Asset & Liability Committee), a committee that’s usually made up largely of a bank’s executive leadership. Opportunities like that don’t come around often in your career. At Brand New Day, I’m trusted with that responsibility, and that’s something quite special.”
Ho Chi agrees wholeheartedly.
Ho Chi: “You get a lot of freedom and influence here, no matter how long you’ve been with the company. People focus much more on your abilities and your ideas than on your job title or years of experience. If you have a proposal for improving something, you’re encouraged to share it. You can genuinely influence decisions, and that makes the work much more rewarding.”
An informal culture with room for fun
As a relatively young bank, Brand New Day combines an entrepreneurial mindset with an informal culture.
Ho Chi: “The atmosphere is relaxed and youthful. We’re growing rapidly, which brings a lot of energy and change. At the same time, we’re still small enough that everyone knows each other by name, regardless of their role or department.”
Wes recognises that immediately.
Wes: “Our Executive Board is incredibly approachable too. That’s something you don’t often see at larger banks. We collaborate a lot and constantly learn from one another. You can tell that everyone here has an entrepreneurial mindset. We all want to build something together. And it definitely helps that we enjoy getting together for drinks after work.”
Ho Chi laughs.
Ho Chi: “It’s a genuinely flat organisation. We work hard, but we also make time to have fun together. Every Thursday we have a themed social gathering, organised by a different department each week. It’s a great way to get to know colleagues from across the company.”
Investing in talent
What really sets Brand New Day apart is its culture of innovation and collaboration.
Ho Chi: “We’re encouraged to come up with new ideas. At larger banks you’re often confined to the boundaries of your job description, but here your talents are recognised and used. It’s great to see that even colleagues who have only recently joined the company are already making a real impact by launching new initiatives.”
Brand New Day invests not only in its products and services, but also in its people.
Ho Chi: “The company is always looking for ways to improve, and that includes investing in our development. Every employee receives a €5,000 learning budget every five years for courses or professional training. If you want to use the full budget at once, that’s absolutely possible.”
Wes has made good use of those opportunities himself.
Wes: “I’ve completed a three-day ALM course, and I’ve attended seminars and industry events as well. You really notice that the company encourages you to keep developing yourself.”
Curious to experience what Ho Chi and Wes are talking about? Take a look at our current vacancies, or get in touch with our HR team for a cup of coffee or tea. We’d love to meet you.
