Milwaukee Cross Cultural Diversity and Workplace Differences | Green Bay Cross Cultural Communication Management Training by Bilingual Skills Services

Banking

"Some 1 million new Americans arrive on our shores every year to join the 33 million other immigrants who are making America their home. These men, women and children, families, entrepreneurs, skilled workers, laborers and professionals require banking services to help them make a home here, and banks and financial institutions are gaining proficiency in meeting their financial needs."
Best Practices in Immigrant Lending 2004
Prepared for the American Bankers Association by ShoreBank Advisory Services

"Knowledge and understanding more means I can conduct myself in such a way to benefit the bank. Learning the Hispanic culture is so important as behaviors are so different. But now it is easier to be relaxed when I see Hispanics in the bank."
Employee of Community Bank Delavan

Meeting the Banking Needs of the Latinos

When banking institutions begin to attract and retain the Latino client, they will begin to realize the profitability of the fast growing and underserved Hispanic population in the U.S. today. Banks entering this market often begin by asking themselves these pertinent questions.

Who are the Hispanics in our community - immigrants, first or second generation?
What does each group need from a financial institution?
What special tools or programs are needed to support this initiative?
What is the best way to market to this diverse population?
What are the cultural barriers to Hispanic customers?
What are the ITIN and the Matricula Consular?

The bilingual and bicultural staff of Bilingual Skills Services LLC answers these questions and more while partnering with banks to develop their Strategic Plan for future Hispanic market growth. In addition to providing cultural competency and Spanish language training to tellers, the bilingual staff identifies the community partnerships that link banks to the Hispanic clients they wish to serve. The following is an example of just such a community bank's collaboration with Bilingual Skills Services LLC trained staff.

VIVA Employees - Banking to Latinos Service Initiative
Visionary Involved Valued Advanced

Establish an internal banking organizational structure.
Identify and form community partner alliances.
Train banking staff in cross cultural banking competency and Spanish for tellers.