Pros
For the most part there are really good people to work with. You learn a lot more much more quickly than you would at other places and the hours are good.
Cons
Turnover is ludicrous. Even for the banking industry. In 2022 in WA the starting pay with or without experience is $15/hr. Pay increases are a joke. As a CSR teller I do basic transactions, wires, draws, consumer and business account openings and trust and estate accounts, IRA paperwork, tech support for clients... it goes on and on. As a CSR I actually do more account openings than anyone in the branch including 95% of business account openings. Technically that's more in line with a PB's job description but WaFd doesn't want to pay more. Depending on the branch you're in it can be a fairly stressful environment. I enjoy the fast paced nature and I want a little stress but when you're trying to juggle an absurd amount of duties its easy to lose track of things here and there. Management is generally clueless and too absorbed in loans to provide necessary support. There's no vision insurance and the medical is more expensive and less comprehensive than is typical for the field. Every branch in a 50 mile radius (minus 1) is understaffed. The same pattern exists in the back office departments and other states and regions. They boast about their "promote from within culture" but in practice they know it's easier to hire someone for a higher paying role than to play fair. There's also no paid maternity or paternity leave. When branches have closed for weeks at a time due to covid the lowest paying employees have to use their vacation if they don't have enough sick time. If they don't have either (i.e new hires) they go totally unpaid.
