Bethany Kolbe

Hi, I'm Bethany Kolbe. I'm a Project Manager II - Corporate & Consumer Servicing
 

I had worked at Commerce as a teller throughout college, but I left to pursue my master’s degree. When I graduated and was looking for a position where I could utilize the knowledge and skills I’d acquired through my college experience, Commerce was high on my list of employers I wanted to work for because I had had such a positive experience on my first go around with the company. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do after graduating, but Commerce had a program – the LEAD program – that focused on gaining leadership experience in a variety of departments. Once I found the LEAD opportunity, I was hooked! 

As cliché as it sounds, the people I work with are without a doubt the most enjoyable part of my job. I’ve had the opportunity to work on several cross-functional teams that span through various departments and Commerce markets, and every time I meet someone new, they ultimately become a permanent connection that I know I can rely on for really any questions or situations I may run into. We really are just one big team, even though we are technically separated by functions and markets.  
 

We talk a lot about our “shadow” here at Commerce, which is basically the reputation you carry. In my experience, if you cast a positive shadow and are able to back it up with the work you perform, your voice is heard and you can have impact very early on in your career. So although I’ve only been at Commerce for ~4 years, I feel that I’ve been heard and that I’ve had an influence on certain matters. It’s been very rewarding to know that the work that I do matters and the ideas that I bring are valued.   

I think a lot of people just sort of end up in banking. It’s not really an industry that you dream about working in as a kid. And on top of that, it’s pretty common to only think of banking in terms of how the average consumer interacts with their bank – to hold on to their money and take out loans. But banking goes so far beyond just the Retail branch level, and there’s so much opportunity to be and do different things within your banking career. At Commerce, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to learn about the many career paths available to me, and I’ve been even more pleasantly surprised to have the freedom to explore those paths through job shadowing, mentorship, and cross-functional team opportunities.  

Commerce has prepared me for my career growth by allowing me the opportunities to explore my interests and grow in my skillsets. I’ve had the chance to attend several national conferences in order to learn and network with peers across the country; I was nominated for and completed Commerce’s Leadership Development Program where I learned alongside other influential leaders at Commerce; and I’ve had the chance to successfully study for and ultimately obtain several industry-level certifications in order to expand my knowledge. All of these notable experiences and the mentorship I’ve been afforded along the way have prepared me and led me toward the success I’ve had to this point.  

If you are considering working at Commerce Bank, I would tell you that Commerce is an incredible place to work, truly. There’s a reason so many great people have such long tenure here, and there’s a reason we have so many “boomerang” employees. The culture here is really just unmatched.