2022 VBA Internship Program
Mentor Resources

Internal Links Monica McDearmon

You will find all 2022 VBA Internship Program materials, resources and templates on this page. The interns will also be given a link to their own resource webpage for use throughout the summer. Please contact Monica McDearmon with questions. 

Intern Registration Information

Banks are asked to register their interns by May 20, 2022. Please see the PDF below to complete the registration. Please note – you’ll need to copy pages 2 and 3 to register more than one intern for the program. Please contact Monica if you have any questions about this form.

2022 Mentor Orientation

  • VBA Slides - Mentor Orientation
  • VBA E&T Leadership Training Continuum
  • Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership Slides
    • Virginia Employer Readiness Toolkit - The Virginia Employer Readiness Toolkit is a comprehensive document to aid the employer community in building and expanding internship and work-based learning opportunities for higher education students throughout the Commonwealth. The readiness toolkit provides information and key resources to employers as they consider implementing these programs either at their place of work or remotely. The toolkit helps employers with their readiness for interns to ensure quality of the experience for students, institutions and businesses. 
    • Learn more about and join the Virginia Association of Colleges and Employers here.
  • Access a recording of the Mentor Orientation here.

VBA Certificate of Completion Requirements

Interns participating in the VBA Internship Program will be eligible to receive the Certificate of Completion if they meet the following requirements. Mentors are asked to send the certificate checklist and all necessary documentation to Monica no later than August 31st.

2022 Certificate Checklist
2022 Certificate Checklist - Fillable PDF

  • Complete an American Bankers Association (ABA) online training course OR equivalent online banking industry training (must be approved by the VBA). See below for more information on the ABA course options.
  • Complete a capstone project and presentation.
  • Participate in at least one of the in-person events (Intern Orientation or Mid-Summer Meet Up) and at least three of the virtual VBA events.
  • Involvement in a community support or volunteer opportunity (banks will determine specifics of this based on opportunities throughout the summer).
  • Complete the VBA Internship Program self-evaluation.

ABA Online Course Information

Interns are required to complete an ABA online course OR equivalent online banking industry training (must be approved by the VBA*) to earn the VBA Certificate of Completion. 

2022 ABA Course Options

*To have an equivalent online banking industry training approved, please email Monica the following information:

  • Name of training provider.
  • Name of online course.
  • Brief course description.
  • Estimated amount of time spent to complete course.

Sample Banking Fundamental course schedules (four weeks, facilitated):

Capstone Project & Presentation

Throughout the summer, interns will complete a capstone project and presentation on a banking industry topic. This project will be due by a date agreed upon by the bank and intern, no later than August 5, 2022. Interns can either research one of the topic options listed below or a topic selected by the bank. Mentors will complete the capstone project and presentation rubrics at the conclusion of the project.

In-Person Meetings

Interns must attend at least one of the in-person meetings as part of their certificate requirements.

Intern Orientation

June 2nd from 10a.m. – 3p.m. at the VBA office in Glen Allen

Hotel Information
Hyatt Place Richmond/Innsbrook
4100 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

We have a group rate available for the night of June 1st. Please click here to make reservations. 

This one-day introduction to the program is a great opportunity for your interns to meet the other students in the program, members of the VBA staff and bankers from across Virginia. Sessions will include:

  • Welcome and Banking Industry Introduction
  • Careers in Banking Presentation
  • VBA Internship Program Overview
  • Business Etiquette Presentation
  • Past Intern Panel
  • …and more!

Mid-Summer Meet Up

July 7th from 10a.m. – 3p.m. at the VBA office in Glen Allen

Hotel Information
Hyatt Place Richmond/Innsbrook
4100 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

We have a group rate available for the night of July 6th. Please click here to make reservations. 

This one-day meeting will feature engagement with members of the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders Steering Committee. Sessions will include:

  • EBL Panel Discussion
  • Capstone Project Research Rotations with EBL Members
  • Resume Workshop, Interview Skills and Other HR Best Practices Session
  • VBA Overview
  • …and more!

Virtual Meetings

Interns must attend at least three of the virtual meetings as part of their certificate requirements.

The VBA will hold Zoom meetings throughout the summer for all interns participating in the program. We hope this provides a platform for our interns to get to know one another, learn about the industry, and hear from banking professionals from across the Commonwealth.

These meetings will occur on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. starting June 8th and ending August 3rd.

Meeting Schedule & Guest Speaker Information (please note this schedule is subject to slight changes):

  • Wednesday, June 8th* – Enneagram Workshop
    Katie West (see below for more information)
  • Wednesday, June 15th - Cryptocurrency 101: A Banker’s Perspective
    Cary Ayers, Atlantic Union Bank and member of the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders
  • Wednesday, June 29th – Presentation from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
    Speakers TBD
  • Wednesday, July 13th – A Conversation on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Banking Industry
    Guest: VBA DEI Council Member Candace Davenport, First Bank, VA
  • Wednesday, July 20th – Presentation Skills and LinkedIn Best Practices
    Presentation Skills
    Jamie Covey, United Bank
    LinkedIn
    Caitlin Croswell, American Bankers Association
  • Wednesday, August 3rd – Capstone Project Discussions & Mini-Presentations
    Guests: EBL Members & VBA Staff

​Enneagram Workshop with Katie West | June 8th, 10-11:30 a.m.

*This session will run from 10-11:30 a.m. and is designed for both the interns and their mentors.

During this session, interns and mentors will become familiar with the Enneagram to identify with one of the nine personality types so they can be aware of their own personality and use it in the best way possible while understanding general characteristics of other’s personality types. During the session, we will discuss:

  • Enneagram personality typing system and how it operates as a fluid and dynamic system
  • Know ways to develop more effective connections with others based on their Enneagram type
  • Become familiar with the general characteristics of the 9 types
  • Become familiar with how each of the 9 types responds to stress and security
  • Assignment for post workshop learning experience

Enneagram Test Information

Before the session, mentors and interns may want to take a test to determine their Enneagram type. Below are two test options:

  • The RHETI from the Enneagram Institute. This test is one of the oldest in the market place have been available for over 20 years.  Katie recommends this test because it comes with a comprehensive report and the website is robust and full of good information too.  The test is $12. www.enneagraminstitute.com
  • EnneaApp. The EnneaApp has good information about the 9 types and makes for a nice, quick reference.  Simply search “EnneaApp” in the App Store on your phone to download the free app.

Templates

Evaluation Templates

  • Template - Competencies 
    This template can be used at a mid-summer and/or final intern evaluation and includes a list of recommended competencies against which you can evaluate the performance of your intern using a scale of 1-5.
  • Template - Final Evaluation by Supervisor 
    This comprehensive evaluation template can be used at the end of the summer and includes a variety of opportunities for the mentor to provide specific feedback on the intern’s overall performance.
  • Template - Mid Summer or Final Eval with Competencies 
    This evaluation template can be used at a mid-summer and/or final intern evaluation and includes summary of performance for specific learning objectives as well as a list of recommended competencies against which you can evaluate the performance of your intern using a scale of 1-5. 

Additional Learning Opportunities for Interns

Access to VBA Connect|Protect Experience virtual sessions

As an additional educational opportunity, interns will have access to the monthly virtual sessions (and recordings) of The VBA Connect|Protect Experience. The monthly Experience sessions are organized by function area (marketing, human resources, training, retail, ERM, security, and operations & technology) and can be a huge resource for the capstone project research as well as overall industry knowledge. 

Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management

The 2022 session of the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management (Bank School) will be held at UVA in Charlottesville the week of July 24-29. On Tuesday, July 26th, interns will have the opportunity to visit in-person and shadow the first and second year classes. More information on this opportunity will be available soon!

2022 Bank School Curriculum

YRichmond

Registering your interns for YRichmond will provide access to professional development in-person and/or virtual sessions and access to the YRichmond social communication platform.

2022 YRichmond Calendar
YRichmond Pricing Guide

ChamberRVA Contact:
Allison Pollock, Program Manager | ChamberRVA

Additional Resources for Mentors

This annual survey was released in early March 2020. Technology and improving digital experience were common themes in this report, and CEOs said they would look to make improvements in two key areas: customer experience and back office operations. 

Acquiring new customers and recruiting and retaining talent topped the list of things keeping CEOs up at night. With respect to talent development, nearly half of respondents said they found it difficult or very difficult to recruit people with the skills they need to remain competitive, and many noted improvements to their compensation and benefits offerings in order to attract new talent.

Participating Banks & Mentor Contact Information

2022 Mentor Contact List

2022 Participating Banks:

  • American National Bank & Trust Co.*
  • Benchmark Community Bank*
  • Blue Ridge Bank
  • Chain Bridge Bank*
  • Chesapeake Bank*
  • F&M Bank*
  • First Bank & Trust Co.*
  • Oak View National Bank*
  • Southern Bank and Trust Company
  • The Bank of Southside Virginia*
  • TowneBank

*Past Participant