Pros
MDPs receive a lot of recognition in the company, but it's just so they can lock you in early and pay you low wages for the rest of your career
Cons
Lots of smart, enthusiastic college grads leave the Management Development Program within one or two years of joining M&T. The bank will tell you it's because young people are dumb and choose first jobs that aren't a good fit, but that's a shameful lie. People leave because they aren't valued and their work is meaningless. M&T doesn't value young talent. The Management Development Program is supposed to develop leaders but you spend the whole year being fed propaganda about how M&T is a community bank that's the best place you'll ever work. That couldn't be further from the truth. The bank is all about reaping profits for shareholders and keeping employee expenses as low as possible. The recruiters lie to you and say you'll be in an analytical role but in reality you'll either be dealing with angry customers all day or smashing your head against your Windows XP PC that freezes every 5 minutes. Wages are low at M&T, health insurance is terrible and many employees are lifers who have never worked anywhere but M&T. M&T brags about this but they really shouldn't. Most long term M&T employees know nothing about how modern companies operate. Many modern companies are diverse and dynamic, but M&T has a gross lack of diversity and is unaware of the needs of its workforce and the communities it serves. M&T is stagnant and afraid of change. If you're a recent college grad from a big, reputable school, don't join the MDP. The bank is scared of technology and innovation, and its empty promises about valuing its employees get old fast. Go start your career at any other major company and they'll give you better pay, benefits, perks, advancement options and most importantly, work that's impactful from day one.