Well. Where do I start. This is a little intro: I began my career with Chase Bank as a Personal Banker, when the role still existed, a few months into my job I was performing pretty well and I was asked to gain my Investment Licenses (which you cannot use anyway because per company policy you cannot sell investments, or really even talk about it, so why do you need it? whatever), after becoming a national achiever, I believe I was number 66 in the country, I was promoted to Business Relationship Manager.
Throughout my whole time at Chase (about 4 years) I covered different positions and I can tell you that there are political issues - if you don't know someone or are loved by someone you will not advance -, the amount of sales pressure is is incredible and pretty much not achievable by most - you really have to be in a super affluent area, play dirty and be the only banker to rank up those PVCs-, the compensation plan is a joke (for bankers) - every year they eliminate something you could get paid on, the managers are puppets and the company keeps opening up new roles up there in the higher management for they're friends and family. If I could sum it up I would say it's like the Mafia, only with lower compensation.
On another note I can say that this only applies to Chase Retail (or branch banking), the JPMorgan side is a lot different and a lot better when it comes down to compensation, expectations and management.
My suggestion apply elsewhere, maybe Wells, or Citi - they have much better salaries and are a lot less stressed out about achieving impossible targets.
P.S. their keys to success that are drilled into everybody's heads do not apply to senior management.
