Jacob Czarnick

"There is plenty of opportunity to grow in the bank. Everyone is encouraged to take on new responsibilities and discover certain areas of banking that they haven't tried before."

2023 Bank Intern
Columbus Bank & Trust Co., Columbus

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What high school did you attend?
Twin River Public Schools

What is your year in school?
​Senior

What college did/do you attend?
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

What is your major?
​Agribusiness

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What influenced your decision to do a banking internship?
I am the youngest of five in my family. Three of my older brothers have specific roles in agriculture: agronomy, animal science and mechanized ag. I was always good with numbers, and my father suggested being in ag finance. I took the challenge to explore the career and developed an interest for it. I knew right away that when I decided to do ag finance, I would want to work in the bank as an ag lender. Of course, knowing little about what goes on in banking, I knew I would need to do an internship to get an idea of what I can expect working in this field.

What has been the most beneficial part of your internship?
I think some beneficial parts of this internship would have to be the personal lessons I've learned while interning here. Being able to understand what to expect when buying a home. Learning how a bank operates and actions taken behind closed doors. As well as understanding some of the policies and guidelines on loans that are in place to protect both the lender and the borrower. The most beneficial part would be the networking and personal connections I have gained throughout the last 10 weeks. Columbus Bank & Trust Co. encourages community involvement with their employees and acts like a second family to me. Especially someone who spend the majority of their childhood working on their family farm, it was an easy transition for me.

​What areas of banking did you focus on in your internship? Is this something you want to continue doing in the future?
Throughout the 10 weeks I was there, I worked with Consumer Banking, IT/Deposit Operations and Loan Operations, which included positions such as Universal Banker, Personal Banker, IT/Deposit Operations, Mortgage Operations, Loan Operations and finally Ag/Commercial Lending. All of these areas were well worth the experience, and I enjoyed all departments equally. Although, with my passion towards agriculture, I found myself suited for ag lending because I got to work with farmers and help their operation perform.

​How has this internship grown your interest in the banking career path?
Coming into this internship, I had no real clue what all takes place in banking. This internship allowed me to understand all aspects of banking and further understand how all departments work with one another. I also got the chance to speak with customers from all backgrounds, and being able to help them with their financial needs was a great deal for me.

What is the most important thing you have learned through your internship?
There is plenty of opportunity to grow in the bank. Everyone is encouraged to take on new responsibilities and discover certain areas of banking that they haven't tried before. I like to think of this when I continue on because I don't like to think that I'm tied to one position. Rather, I would like to have multiple positions/jobs in a bank. Small banks often need people to cover multiple positions and should be noted when entering the banking industry.

Do you think this internship will help you in your future? If so, how?
Yes. I wish to end up working in a bank someday even if I don't get to be in lending right away, but with the experience gained from this internship, I wouldn't be caught off guard with a different position. I also want to mention that this internship helped me expand my business/finance knowledge. Having this knowledge developed will be a lot easier for me to come back to when I'm working full time.

What would you say to someone who is considering a banking internship?
Ingest everything you see and don't be afraid to take the wheel. I learned so much faster doing the work right away with someone overlooking my shoulder. I was able to learn how to do my work as well as ask questions that pertained to the work I was doing. But that's familiar to me, since I grew up on a farm and learned to work with my hands rather than watching.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I want to thank Columbus Bank & Trust Co. for investing their time and efforts in me. I have grown a personal connection with them and hope to keep that connection with them from here on. I would also like to thank the Nebraska Bankers Association for helping me get in contact with Columbus Bank & Trust Co. and allowing a smooth transition.