Pamela Santos Finds an Industry and Career She Loves at WSFS

By Kyle Babcock | Published: August 2021

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Pamela Santos never thought she would see the day she worked for a bank.

“My mother worked in the banking industry for more than 20 years back in the Dominican Republic,” said Santos, an Assistant Branch Manager at WSFS’ Trolley Square Banking Office in Wilmington. “After seeing her deal with lots of stress, I told myself that if that is what it is like to work in banking, then I would rather not do that. But here I am, and I love all parts of working at WSFS!”

Santos’ experience with WSFS began as a Customer in 2009 after she immigrated to the United States. She quickly fell in love with the Bank thanks to its kind Associates and the exceptional service she received.

“In 2014, my banker at my local branch advised me to apply for a Personal Banker position,” she said. “I was a little hesitant due to the language barrier, but I took the chance and applied. Within days, I was contacted by a recruiter and the rest is history! It was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

That same year, Santos graduated from Wilmington University with a degree in business management, but her desire to continuously learn remained. She then started work toward her master’s degree in business management with a concentration in organizational leadership and graduated in 2016.

“Being a full-time student and working full-time was not easy, but with the support of my family and my coworkers, I was able to accomplish my dreams,” she said.

While working hard in the classroom, she also took on the challenge of learning a new industry, leaning on her Customer service skills from a prior job.

“Prior to joining WSFS, I worked in a retail clothing store and was able to interact with clients and peers, which taught me a lot and helped me practice English,” she said. “Those Customer service skills were easily transferable and helped as I had the opportunity to learn from scratch about the banking industry and helping people with their financial needs.”

As Santos grew her own skills and knowledge, she also developed a strong interest in teaching others and became a mentor for new hires for more than two years.

“From there, I successfully completed WSFS’ Fundamentals of Leadership class, and was offered a position as a Team Lead as a result,” Santos said. “I was then promoted to my current position of Assistant Branch Manager, where I coach my team toward success and ensure they have all the tools necessary to serve our Customers and meet our goals.”

After seven years – with a brief pitstop at another company – Santos has found an industry she never thought she’d work in to be one she loves.

“I am positive that WSFS is the only reason that I love banking as much as I do today,” she said. “WSFS has taught me that banking is not just about deposits and loans, but rather listening to our Customers and being there for them during their most significant milestones in life. The Bank cares deeply about the growth of its Associates, and invests in them through training to help them progress in the organization and their careers.”

Click here to learn about Retail Banking career and advancement opportunities at WSFS.

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About the Author – Kyle Babcock
Kyle Babcock is Integrated Communications Strategist at WSFS Bank. He has more than eight years of experience in product and professional services marketing, communications and advertising.