Stories

Interns’ calendars are packed with workshops, volunteering, networking with leaders, and more.

It is not every day that a young student is situated among corporate professionals with an abundance of opportunities at their fingertips. Whether virtual, hybrid or onsite, U.S. Bank interns were ready to get started last June. Located in over 30 states, the company welcomed 414 undergraduate and master’s level interns across all business lines at U.S. Bank – from Wealth Management and Investment Services to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to Technology and Operations Services.

While the interns were placed across the business, there were core learning opportunities shared by all participants. “Our 10-week summer internship program is one of the ways we help early talent thrive at U.S. Bank,” said Barak Ir, director of Early Careers Recruiting and Development. “Throughout the summer, our interns have the chance to explore different career pathways, contribute meaningfully to projects across the company and build lasting relationships with teammates, peers and leaders. Our interns give back to the community and learn tips to ease their transition from college to career. When we fully immerse interns into our business, they can begin their full-time career journey with a solid foundation of our company culture and the work we do.”

During the week, interns participated in professional development workshops emphasizing the important of networking, building your resume and presentation skills. Participants also were busy crafting their case competition projects, which involves creating a new initiative, strategy or product to reach and acquire young potential clients to the company. Throughout the summer, they collaborated as fellow interns through multiple rounds of judges with a chance to present for senior management and a $500 scholarship prize. Perhaps the greatest highlight of the program was the 15 Learning with Leaders sessions, where interns directly participated in Q&A discussions with each managing committee member at U.S. Bank, including Andy Cecere, chairman, president and CEO.

Interns traded their work attire for the signature U.S. Bank volunteer shirt, giving back to their communities in a variety of ways. Volunteer events took place in Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis. For the first time since 2020, more than 115 interns joined together at U.S. Bank stadium in downtown Minneapolis to pack backpacks with school supplies, which supported over 50,000 local students. When they weren’t volunteering, interns also had the chance to network at socials ranging from dinners to sporting events.

Alexis Philbrick, an MBA intern, reported to the Minneapolis office multiple times per week thanks to her flexible hybrid schedule. Philbrick was an intern on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, which works to build strong relationships with diverse suppliers and to advance economic and racial equity through philanthropy, financial education and employee community engagement.

Her internship project included looking at the survey application process for the DiversityInc Top 50 list, the leading assessment for diversity management in corporate America, to ensure U.S. Bank is telling an inspiring, cohesive narrative.

“I also helped create 30-minute manager case studies for managers around hiring biases, microaggressions, discrimination and disability accommodations,” she said.

Philbrick said her favorite experience of the internship was the Learning with Leaders session with Greg Cunningham, chief diversity officer at U.S. Bank. “Greg said a great leader is able to influence and mobilize people and resources around a vision. This really stuck with me, because it stresses the importance of collaboration to make a positive impact in the communities we are serving.”

Omar Webb, an undergraduate intern based in Charlotte had an equally rewarding experience in the Global Banks and Specialty Finance division of Corporate and Commercial Banking.

“I worked on an anchor project for the global banks team. I also presented a peer-to-peer teach-in focusing on something that interests me within the global banks division,” said Webb. His favorite experience this summer was his volunteer day in Charlotte, packing and distributing food at a local food bank.

Webb shared one last piece of advice he heard from a fellow colleague. “Don’t panic, keep your composure, and be great!” There is no doubt every intern had their share of greatness during the Summer 2022 Internship Program!

For more information about internships at U.S. Bank, visit our Students and Internships page.

This article was written by Hanna Hausmann, a 2022 communications/marketing intern at U.S. Bank.