After nine years as a blackjack dealer, Amber Farr was ready for something new. She felt drawn to the financial industry and applied to banking jobs but didn’t gain any traction due to lack of finance experience and challenges in navigating job interviews. She decided to apply for Employ Milwaukee’s BankWork$ program, which offers free banking training.  

During BankWork$ classes, Amber learned about the financial industry, how to build rapport with customers, how to build a resume, and more. She appreciated the time spent learning how to answer tough interview questions, which she struggled with during her job search.  

BankWork$ features a nationally recognized curriculum co-developed by financial services employers. Locally, BankWork$ is industry-driven with financial institutions participating in class presentations, mock interviews, and the graduation ceremony, which includes a hiring event where graduates are interviewed for open positions. 

“The most impactful thing I learned was how to open up and be myself, and how to engage in interviews,” Amber said. 

With her new skills and interviewing confidence gained from BankWork$, Amber was offered and accepted a job as a Teller at BMO Harris Bank right after her BankWork$ graduation in February 2025. She enjoys getting to know her customers and knows most of them by name.  

“My instructor Miss Adriene was definitely hands on with a lot of things,” Amber said. “Everything she taught us, I’m definitely utilizing in the bank industry.”  

Instructor Adriene Wright worked in the banking industry for nearly 30 years in a variety of roles, starting as a teller and moving up to a teller supervisor, interim branch manager, and corporate trainer. She brings her hands-on experience in banking to the classroom, preparing participants with the knowledge they need to succeed in the industry.  

Since local financial institutions play a part in the BankWork$ training, program graduates who get hired come into the job with existing knowledge of company processes. The demand for bank tellers in Milwaukee County is higher than the national average, with around 26 job postings per month. Pay also exceeds the national average by $3,000 annually. 

Amber is one of 110 BankWork$ graduates since 2019 to work at a local financial institution after completing the program.