A new career opportunity in the dynamic banking sector

In the last five years, the Lithuanian financial services sector has grown significantly. Creating a favorable environment for financial technology (fintech) companies will increase from 170 in 2018. increased to 276 last year. Invest in Lithuania according to fintech companies in 2023. 7.4 thousand worked moni Darius Burdaitis, head of the Lithuanian branch of Citadele Bank, notes that the banking sector has grown stronger over time, and it has strongly extended services to drivers, significantly increased the volume of lending to businesses and residents.

A special spectrum that expands with the customer’s needs

With the growing need for more sustainable services, Citadele Bank has started offering its customers a fuel home loan for purchasing an energy-efficient home, a fuel savings account that will be invested in environmentally friendly projects, D. Burdaitis talks about innovations. Feeling the need to conveniently pay with digital bdu in 2020. the bank started providing Klix e-commerce solution, which in 2023 at the end of the year, more than 1,300 merchants used it, and in 2023 alone 16 mln. 560 million for the operation Eur. Later, the range of Klix services will be supplemented by an automated solution based on the buy now, pay later principle.

According to D. Burdaiis, together with the financial sector, the image of the specialist working in it is also changing. The rapid development of technology and the growing demand for digital solutions have contributed to the growing need for cyber security, artificial intelligence specialists, mobile software developers, and internal technical service workers. Banks also need more data analysts, software engineers. At the same time, the traditional banking profession remained in demand.

The financial sector covers a very wide range of specialties, so employees have many opportunities to try out various positions in the same field. Students of banking or economics start their career at Citadele Bank. They usually start from a customer service position, they have a relatively flexible work schedule, so they are comfortable to combine with their studies, comments D. Burdaitis. Here they become familiar with the bank and its products, and the accumulated baggage travels to other positions. Citadele Bank sees the value in developing talents, so since 1st year it has started to increase the program of paid internships for students.

We are also looking for employees for several beginners, junior, positions. It is important to have the desire and motivation to grow. Working in a bank is fast-paced, project-driven, so in a year or two, after starting from the position of a beginner specialist, you can grow strongly and expand your own portfolio, says D. Burdaitis.

The requirements for employees depend greatly on the position. According to the manager of the Lithuanian branch of Citadele Bank, it is not necessary to have an economics diploma to work in a bank, but even working in the field of communication, you will need an economics degree. D. Burdaitis noted that there is no employee who is knowledgeable, but it is important to get used to it and feel the desire to learn more, to be able to collect information.

New days every Thursday

New employees who joined Citadele Bank and its managers have special tasks that help to provide comprehensive information about the bank and its products, markets, teams and its responsibilities, as well as the systems used by the bank and similar things. Employees have regular conversations with their managers, set their annual goals.

Once every four months, we organize newcomer days, which not only better familiarize with the organization and its values, but also act as a way of team building. In Meninje banking, we have a mentoring program based on a motivational system. When a new employee passes a special test, the mentor receives a bonus to his salary, which motivates him to prepare his new colleague as best as possible, says D. Burdaitis about the integration of the new employee.

New colleagues receive special questionnaires after two weeks and after the trial period, which help the bank to improve the innovation process and other aspects of our operations.

A new program for leaders

The young generation is not afraid of change, therefore, as in other sectors, as well as in finance, we need to pay more attention to employee motivation, to think carefully about what additional benefits to provide in order to strengthen employee loyalty and our competitiveness as an employer. Monse is working at the moment baby boomers, X, Y and Z generations. These are very different experiences, so both personnel specialists and team leaders need to find a way to equally attract colleagues and respond to their needs. Taking this into account, Citadele Bank is implementing a leadership training program that all managers must go through once a year.

Soft competences

For many employees, the opportunity to grow and to do so quickly is important, so we pay a lot of attention to training and employee development. Citadele Baltijos ali bankas, therefore, our advantage is the possibility of reaching a position covering all three Baltic states, points out D. Burdaitis.

When looking for an employee, the bank pays great attention to the so-called devilish qualities: flexibility, wider motivation, the ability not only to concentrate on one’s duties, but also to see a more general picture, for example, how the results achieved by the employee will affect the organization. we need employees whose values ​​match the organizations, because you can reveal your potential only when you feel good culturally, in your place. Personal contact has always been important in working with clients, and this is confirmed by the surveys we have conducted on both private and business customer satisfaction services. For example, business clients reveal that they highly value their relationship with the project manager who supervises them, shares D. Burdaitis.

By automating certain processes, in the future there will be less and less need for technical personnel, for example, preparing contracts. However, with the development of technology comes the need for new products. According to Darius Burdaiis, everyone talks about artificial intelligence, taking away company jobs, but with the development of artificial intelligence, there is a need for a specialist who is able to manage it, create tasks, check the information it provides.

Customers are increasingly inclined to manage their finances through digital channels, therefore, in an effort to ensure the best experience, we consistently invest in updating our processes, improving mobile applications, internet banking, which increases the need for remote service, IT specialists, programmers, UX/UI designers, product specialists, to name a few Head of the Lithuanian branch of Citadele Bank.

With the strengthening of the financial sector, there remains a great demand for such specialties as lawyers, legal compliance, money laundering prevention experts, banks employ more marketing and communication, UX and design experts.