- “If you don’t like the pay, then get out of the way” culture from the top down.
- Extreme micromanagement: 30-minute activity updates throughout the day, constant monitoring of emails, phones, and computer activity.
- Rigid scheduling – strict start/end times, block schedules, and heavy scrutiny on PTO requests. Taking time off often requires multiple levels of approval and justification.
- Complete lack of pay transparency.
- The senior executive team keeps the overwhelming majority of profits. Bonuses are frequently reduced or recalculated with little explanation, leaving even high-performing branches feeling undercompensated.
- Annual raises are rare and, when given, typically 1-2% at most.
- Severely outdated technology and processes: still printing physical checks for loan disbursements and expenses, no company credit cards (managers pay out-of-pocket and wait 30-60 days for reimbursement), clunky systems.
- Branch profitably (and therefore bonuses/reviews) is heavily influenced by corporate decisions on rates, credit policy, corporate "contributions" (what they skim off the top of your branch's profit for home office expenses), and marketing spend that branch staff cannot control.