dearie:


I'd like to begin by telling you it's a case of different strokes for different folks. I quite agree with some of the posts here even though i'm tempted to say some appear a bit exaggerated, but most of them are right.

I have put in 8 years. So i can tell you i got into the industry when it was all red and rosy, and having stayed put till this time, and surviving all the shake ups and right sizing. I can say i've almost seen it all and thank God for guiding me. The truth is majority of us are trapped here due to lack of available alternatives, fear of the unknown, and will therefore leave only when the bank pushes us away.

It could really be very financially rewarding though. As a core staff in the Audit Group, I must confess the Pay is not bad at all, but whether it is commensurate with the workload, that is subjective. with most Middle management staff with an average of 12 years on the job from entry level pocketing 7 digit pay monthly,You will agree it's not bad. And did i tell you that some staff get as much as 12 times their monthly salary at Profit Sharing? If you are a performing marketer, you could get an 8-digit pay for PS alone. Yeah it is quite rewarding financially (as a core staff), but sadly, it ends there.

For those in Lagos and are operations staff, you barely have a life. Infact for women...don't just go there.

In my own opinion, I think marketers are the luckiest set of bankers. So many smart marketers build a network with their customers and before you know it...they are out on their own with a ready-made network to roll with.

In summary, for lack of options, you may not have a choice for starters...but you can be disciplined with your expenses and give yourself a target and leave when you can. It is hellish to be caught in the web of right sizing ooo. some dey almost contemplate suicide, especially if you've been living on loan. Avoid unnecessary loans and live modest.

By God's Grace, you will be successful.

PS check out my signature...

Why? Pls explain the bolded

Thought I won't be able to survive when I left my banking job

airsaylongcon:


*drags him back by the collar*

come and tear our eyes with your experience joor

Kai! Some "fheofle" are to wiscked, walahi!

***removes collar and bolts for the nearest exit****
Singing .....its all about the money ...and its ain't damn funny! Now am righteous; l think l'll take a 9-to-5 (job) ...


My 'analog' experience wont do you any good in today's world!
Let me go and play on my PS3 joor



Lastpage!

lastpage:


Kai! Some "fheofle" are to wiscked, walahi!

***removes collar and bolts for the nearest exit****

My 'analog' experience wont do you any good in today's world!
Let me go and play on my PS3 joor



Lastpage!

It will actually. I'm interested in all d histrionics surrounding Y2K. When and how did u decide to turn off your emergency response plan? And if Y2k really exploded were d banks really ready and capable of coping? You talked about been asked to be available by email when vacationing. Considering that at d time d only means of getting online outside d office was from rickety cyber cafés how were u able to remotely check your emails given terrible speeds and security risks.

I'm asking cos now we take all of this for granted but they must have been really big issues back in d day

#curiosITnerd

Helkayklassic:
People who travels oversea will always keep to their anthem of "ko easy" yet they will be living large. I am ready to face the stress as long as the salary is rewarding, any help on securing the job will be appreciated.

Its the same "fear of the unknown" especially if one is the type that lacks focus and foresight!

What will most "come back home" to"?
House dem nor build!
Lands, them nor acquire!
Going-business, dem nor start!
Shares wey dem buy don turn worthless pennies!
Boyz wey dem leave for yonder don turn to "bigger" boyz!

You wan t make shame kill them?
For abroad, shame nor dey o, afterall, Prime Minister dey enter train and CEO dey drive himself.

Make dem kuuku stay-put, E go better......if you dey play lottery



Lastpage!

Mr Musco, if you had the chance to switch back to your former bank employer, knowing what you know now, would you do it?

It seems tougher where you are now, though the pay might be better.

Mr Last page, very insightful contributions. Well done sir.

We all plan to leave some day.

Nigrian bankers have taken competetion to a level of regret. The job has long lost its value, I was there so I know how I felt every sunday evenning working with an occultic, selfish, wicked boss.I got fired an I was busy telling everyone with pride and people where amazed,it was a bad marriage, my fiancee ran away with every slight provocation, I had only family, no regrets I saved up and had an msc, today I hv another job am still working on being my own boss.I left early I'm still faboulous.

Cultured:



Bro! Take it easy. From your ill-thought suggestion to present bank workers to secure larger quantity of loan from their banks to give them cover from being retrenched easily (a professional banker present/ex ought to know better that no bank will genuinely give you loan above your severance package without supporting collateral) to your lame claim of owning a plot of land you bought for 500k that now has worth estimate of 25m (I don't care when you buy the imaginary land since you said you have worked in the bank B/W late 90's to earlier 2000), I am in doubt if truly you have experienced bank work.

Your response is uncalled for. If you do not trust his response, why not let it slide

Bubewilson:
Patiently reading and following this thread. I hope it makes front page.
I recently finished NYSC this past July and am having a look in from two banks. The wait has really been long but when no consideration is coming from a different sector and one needs to man up to some responsibilities what options exist other than to join the sector.

But I would love to ask Bankers on this thread does the pay commensurate the Labour you put in?

bros I'm a mobile police personnel attached to 1st bank, atlst iv worked with like 1eor 13 1st bank branch here in lagos, d pple dat enjoy better pay are d managers, pple like service manager, marketing manager, MLS(admin) and the likes. The rest staffs are contract staff earning within d range of 35k to 70k. Half bread is better dan none dey say

Kimoni:


Why? Pls explain the bolded

For women, it is particularly pathetic. As an Ops Staff resident in Lagos, you are at the mercy of house-helps to raise your children and practically care for the family. As a marketer, you had better be a high flyer...you have no idea what harassment and intimidation could push you to do especially if you are not willing to walk-away.

God will keep guiding us all. We have tough women that have braved the odds and eked out a successful banking career though without necessarily compromising. So let that inspire any young and virtuous woman seeking to be successful on the job.

P'S Check out my signature...

dearie:


For women, it is particularly pathetic. As an Ops Staff resident in Lagos, you are at the mercy of house-helps to raise your children and practically care for the family. As a marketer, you had better be a high flyer...you have no idea what harassment and intimidation could push you to do especially if you are not willing to walk-away.

God will keep guiding us all. We have tough women that have braved the odds and eked out a successful banking career though without necessarily compromising. So let that inspire any young and virtuous woman seeking to be successful on the job.

P'S Check out my signature...

true talk

Breadfruit:


How did you get the fed job, if I may ask. Did you get it through any of your connections in the banking industry?

Atimes, answer lead to more question expecially question that doesn't make sense like this

Still following this beautiful thread.

Guitarlife:
Banking is a rewarding job. Not a career in Nigeria. Its best you quit at most 30 years. Unfortunately most people realise this too late and they are stuck.

Most people are lazy too. They tend to relax once they get a job.

Man must aspire and pursue a dream.

For me banking is a phase, and till then...Godwin.

I work in Banking operations and I am working at crossing to lecturing or quiting to pursue a Ph.D.

90% of bankers are actually enduring their work.

Though life is a challenge anywhere one is..

musco4me:
Hmmmm. Guy, if ur an atm custodian in ................... Bank of Nigeria, u will be fightn daily with ur oga because of atm issues and the monitoring. I dnt want to mention the banks name. In this particular bank, atms are strictly monitored and any cash jam or no netwk or cash out on the atm at the wrong hour, ur oga go battle seriously wit u as if ur the cause. I still maintain my stand. I hate bankn but unemployment pushed me to bankn.

Some FBN branches have 9 ATMs. I really pity the custodian..

My years in the bank was like work to death. Oppressive BMs. 5years no leave..

Cultured:



Bro! Take it easy. From your ill-thought suggestion to present bank workers to secure larger quantity of loan from their banks to give them cover from being retrenched easily (a professional banker present/ex ought to know better that no bank will genuinely give you loan above your severance package without supporting collateral) to your lame claim of owning a plot of land you bought for 500k that now has worth estimate of 25m (I don't care when you buy the imaginary land since you said you have worked in the bank B/W late 90's to earlier 2000), I am in doubt if truly you have experienced bank work.

What you just said to lastpage is so unfair.

We all have different lives and different stories. Some sweet, some bitter, some sour.

lastpage:


Where you just a "Bulk Counter/Cash management" Contract staff?

Because even our I.T students get close to that and our NYSC members certainly get that amount at the end of every Month.

45K a month in a foreign country? How would you pay rent, eat, dress-up ,transport and form effizy after work?

okay, maybe thats your basic salary, right?
though l understand that bank management is really cheating their workers nowadays, capitalising on the dearth of jobs!



Lastpage!

lol well i was hired, in my final year of Uni, as an intern on about NGN16, 000.00 equivalent. After a few months we were confirmed as permanent staff but given non-professional designations which is why my pay was as low as NGN45, 000.00. Apart from the two weeks i spent in customer care, i spent most of my time in marketing.

Income's are generally low here as even my Senior Manager boss was on about NGN200,000.00 (two hundred thousand naira) then.

Got a bank job wit FBN,hve gone 4 induction trainin @ kano,still waitin 4 postin 4 ovar 4mnth nw,I jst hpe dey will call cos am almst gvin up hpes.

cana882:
Currently at workforce 4 a bank interview & trust me, all dis comments are nt helping.

Mayb i'll jst go home

funny u

dearie:


For women, it is particularly pathetic. As an Ops Staff resident in Lagos, you are at the mercy of house-helps to raise your children and practically care for the family. As a marketer, you had better be a high flyer...you have no idea what harassment and intimidation could push you to do especially if you are not willing to walk-away.

God will keep guiding us all. We have tough women that have braved the odds and eked out a successful banking career though without necessarily compromising. So let that inspire any young and virtuous woman seeking to be successful on the job.

P'S Check out my signature...

I think it is hectic for men and women alike. I still don't get why you think it is more hectic for women than men.

But I agree a female banker with kids will definitely need a strong support system to balance her role as a mother and a career woman. Still, one can always create time for the kids.

Location also matters a lot. Branch staffs are luckier cuz they are better able to get posted to their preferred locations than head office staffs who have their roles designated only in the H/O and nowhere near their homes, hence, they are stucked in one terrible location forever. However, H/O staffs get more visibility and network better with seniors which they leverage on to progress more rapidly than branch staffs.

Generally speaking, banking is a skilled career and the environment is highly pressurized and competitive but highly rewarding. But most young people do not realise this when coming in. They see only the glamour and think it ends there. Wrong! There are so many bankers out there who can do exactly what you are doing or even do it better, hence one has to distinct himself or herself in every good way. Everyday, you must show your superiors why it has to be you and not the other person. One must always stand out from the crowd.

Again, the career is not for the faint hearted. You can never predict how your day will go. Like someone already mentioned, just one mail can ruin the day or even the week. The career comes with a lot of pains and gains, tears and fears, happiness and sorrows. It's a roller coaster of emotions all the way. But again, like someone said, the alerts makes it all worth it. And for the lucky ones, they enjoy these emotions. They won't have it any other way.

cana882:
Currently at workforce 4 a bank interview & trust me, all dis comments are nt helping.

Mayb i'll jst go home

Bro don't be discouraged by what you read here. I understand that the banking industry in Nigeria is unstable and stressful to work in. Your case may be different. I'm a fresh graduate of banking and finance (2.1). From my high school days, it has always been my dream to be a banker. And I'm optimistic that someday, I'll pilot the affairs of one of the leading banks in Nigeria. Since you're informed about its intricacies, just determine to deal with it. Others have made it; you can make it.

Edipee:
Bro don't be discouraged by what you read here. I understand that the banking industry in Nigeria is unstable and stressful to work in. Your case may be different. I'm a fresh graduate of banking and finance (2.1). From my high school days, it has always been my dream to be a banker. And I'm optimistic that someday, I'll pilot the affairs of one of the leading banks in Nigeria. Since you're informed about its intricacies, just determine to deal with it. Others have made it; you can make it.

tnx bro

airsaylongcon:


It will actually. I'm interested in all d histrionics surrounding Y2K. When and how did u decide to turn off your emergency response plan? And if Y2k really exploded were d banks really ready and capable of coping?
You talked about been asked to be available by email when vacationing. Considering that at d time d only means of getting online outside d office was from rickety cyber cafés how were u able to remotely check your emails given terrible speeds and security risks.

I'm asking cos now we take all of this for granted but they must have been really big issues back in d day

#curiosITnerd

Saw this late!
But l will be very brief, its 2:30am! Madam does not enjoy me sneaking out of bed and going online!

Its all about the date. Back then, teh "year" of a date was represented in just "two digits" YY (as opposed to four digits now YYYY).
It was caused primarily by shortsight and the fact that the computer age started long ago in the 19th century and we never actually bothered to think year 2000 will come, with it sown peculiar nature.
Since around 1930, the year was designated "30" at the software level
Up till 1999, it was 99.
Now,recall that the computer codes are in binary form, i.e strings of zeroes and ones (0,1,1,0,1,1,1,0,,0,0,).
This in itself, has meaning in computer codes, signalling and calculations. In Boolean Logic, a "0" means "off" while a "1" means "ON".
Computers contain a lot of these Logic gates inside Integrated Circuits, in making "Logic & Boolean decisions".

I am trying to explain it well but not get too technical or write an essay on it so pls understand.

Now, as we approach the year 2000, it means for example, the "date" on my server (which also controls a lot of activities as for example, some softwares will not run if "machine-date" is "past" or wrong!) ... will change from 99, to be "re-set to 00" ( A sort of starting point) since only two locations are reserved for the year on the computer! .
That Server will reboot and software on it will go haywire.

On the software level, some of our Customer accounts will get muddled-up. For example, for someone re-paying a loan with accruing interest, "Date" is used to "cycle" the calculation and tell the system a month has ebded and therefore, charge/debit the customer x-y-z amount.
If the date is set to "00", the software has not instruction code embedded, that would recognize that as year 2000, rather it wil terminate the program/instruction and customer is not debited.
Same goes for the credit side. this is a very "basic graphic description" for simplicity

Thus, it was going to be a massive "breakdown" of the banking system and other computer-based systems like Power lines, Billing systems, e.t.c.
Some even said the world was going to come to an end and an educated person like myself occasionally gets tempted to look out of the window from my 6th floor office window when it was "happy new year", just in-case

We started very early (4months ahead) with a technical group that identified all possible areas and we then began to "amend those codes" on the software level.
some banks called in their foreign partners (banking Software owner) while some that have the in-house experienced hands, did it in-house.
Much depends on the type of Banking software you are using (Phoenix, bankMaster, e.t.c)

We also had a back-up system in place (Server duplication and replication, Fail-over systems, e.t.c) such that if what we did (amandment) fails, we will simply go back to Yesterday (Dec 31, 1999), maintain the status-quo until we can figure out what to do. In the mean-time, we will result to "manual transaction" for attending to customers (Ledgers, Customer Accnt Balance, balance sheet, e.t.c)!

Yes, we were ready and we did limit the damage but the amount of money and human effort, not to mention the "fear" that went into it, is better imagined.

I still have a "Purple Hale Clipper" that the office gave to me with the inscription Y2K emblazoned on it, as a souvenir, from back then.
Then it was so cool and unique!
I was also promoted that January and compensated extra, for the additional effort put-in during that period. Not just me, but every mgt staff that was involved.

As for being available when l was on my annual leave, l had to leave my persona Email addy with the bank. I check that regularly.
My vacationing was all-expenses paid for, by the bank (with tickets for my family to holiday abroad). Now, in those countries l go (U.K, U.S, European Countries like France at a time), checking E-mail was not that difficult as their exposure at that time was better than ours. I am refering to the 1990's/ early 2000's now, .....not 1920!

Okay, it was still slow (dial-in Modem)... but we also had the first set of Mobile phones back then (090 number), it was damn expensive but office paid for it.

Hope l have been able to answer you question a bit.
Gat to go now as l think Madam just turned around to discover that Husband is missing from her bedside!

Cheers.


Lastpage!

400billionman:


What you just said to lastpage is so unfair.

We all have different lives and different stories. Some sweet, some bitter, some sour.

Dont mind that Ignacio Onasis!
He is a small boy but very rude and incredibly arrogant.
Am not bothered a bit.
Thanks.


Lastpage!

lastpage:


Saw this late!

On the software level, some of our Customer accounts will get muddled-up.

We started very early (4months ahead)] with a technical group that identified all possible areas and we then began to "amend those codes" on the software level.
some banks called in their foreign partners (banking Software owner) while some that have the in-house experienced hands, did it in-house.

Yes, we were ready and we did limit the damage but the amount of money and human effort, not to mention the "fear" that went into it, is better imagined.

Then it was so cool and unique!

As for being available when l was on my annual leave, l had to leave my persona Email addy with the bank. I check that regularly.

My vacationing was all-expenses paid for, by the bank (with tickets for my family to holiday abroad).

we also had the first set of Mobile phones back then (090 number)

Hope l have been able to answer you question a bit.

Cheers.

Lastpage!

Wow! Those were the heady beginning days of IT in banking. Most of the beginning of your response wasn't necessary for me (I'm a top-notch computing grad - I think *wink*) but I guess a whole lot of other folks will have found it helpful. I didn't consider the software side especially calculating interests for customer loans and deposits. Very insightful.

I have a strong preference for network and computer security so I'm thinking there must have been huge security risks using a Yahoo mail account (surely it has to be a yahoo account at that time) to communicate corporate information. Hillary Clinton is rocking-and-rolling simply for using a server she controlled talkless of a free public mail server. Even if it was a paid AOL account these risks were still present. How did you guys mitigate the risks of such corporate info falling into the hands of *erm* hack**s? Back then those original hackers were really black hat command line wizards.

As for those 090 lines... Mehn u have been a really big boy. Who born monkey that time? Lol.

Finally, regarding the in house technical team. Are you implying that the developers then gave unfettered access to the source code. Cos being able to access the code to fix all Y2k issues must have meant you guys combed every line of code. At the time, was 4 months really early? I'm sure as a little kid I had first head of Y2k on CNN in 98 (might be wrong)

At all: Sorry if I'm derailing o! No more technical questions regarding this any more. Sorry ehn.. Make una no vex for me

thanks,interesting thread.i wanted to be a banker when i started highschool,but now am sure i want to study chem.eng

I've been following this thread . Nice comments so far. the truth always taste bitter. I'm currently studying banking and finance, wanted to be a banker right from childhood. But banking and finance opened my eyes to opportunities in the finance world. Pls bosses is there no department in the bank that focuses on finance like finance department. cos u ppl HV just benn talking operations,service,marketing etc . thank you

odizeey:
I've been following this thread . Nice comments so far. the truth always taste bitter. I'm currently studying banking and finance, wanted to be a banker right from childhood. But banking and finance opened my eyes to opportunities in the finance world. Pls bosses is there no department in the bank that focuses on finance like finance department. cos u ppl HV just benn talking operations,service,marketing etc . thank you

Of course there are. Just that its a head office thing and what are the odds of you being taken to head office??

Please l want to ask why is it difficult and very impossible for those who have left the banking system and wish to come back into the system.l mean you hear statement like they need people who are still in the system

airsaylongcon:


Wow! Those were the heady beginning days of IT in banking. Most of the beginning of your response wasn't necessary for me (I'm a top-notch computing grad - I think *wink*) but I guess a whole lot of other folks will have found it helpful. I didn't consider the software side especially calculating interests for customer loans and deposits. Very insightful.

I have a strong preference for network and computer security so I'm thinking there must have been huge security risks using a Yahoo mail account (surely it has to be a yahoo account at that time) to communicate corporate information. Hillary Clinton is rocking-and-rolling simply for using a server she controlled talkless of a free public mail server. Even if it was a paid AOL account these risks were still present. How did you guys mitigate the risks of such corporate info falling into the hands of *erm* hack**s? Back then those original hackers were really black hat command line wizards.

As for those 090 lines... Mehn u have been a really big boy. Who born monkey that time? Lol.

Finally, regarding the in house technical team. Are you implying that the developers then gave unfettered access to the source code. Cos being able to access the code to fix all Y2k issues must have meant you guys combed every line of code. At the time, was 4 months really early? I'm sure as a little kid I had first head of Y2k on CNN in 98 (might be wrong)

At all: Sorry if I'm derailing o! No more technical questions regarding this any more. Sorry ehn.. Make una no vex for me

Cunny man-die, cunny-man bury am.
If you really need to say something that was "classified", you say half on the Email and say the other important half by Phone.
That was pre-agreed. Its like the current Hash-key/hand-shake system ........ you wont get a complete picture unless you have both keys.
Back then, within our Nigerian environment, criminal 'geeks' are not too into yahoo-yahoo to the level we have today, no "online presence" and no ATM/Cards to hack!.

Hilary Clinton's case was "deliberate" because she was a "Politically exposed person"... which l am not. Nobody knew blacky like me sef!

We had this agreement with our Hardware/Software vendors" If we buy from you, you have to train our staff so that we dont run to you for any "small thing".
We have a lot of software/hardware/Network/Database Admins in-house back then.
Infact, the software we were using before we went online ...... (we use to collect diskettes from each branch by courier, and load onto the H/Office DataBase Server, run it and then send back to Update branches, ofcourse their Cabal is always one day late! )..... was written IN-HOUSE! so we had good guys already.
During implementation, we always ensure we ask questions and no the nitty-gritty and after that, we all went to the Vendor's office abroad, for more training!
They also dont want to be coming here over every little thing, its a win-win for both of us. Mind you, we were not "modifying their software" without their knowledge and consent, its more of we are doing what they would have done for us, anyway.... by ourselves.
What we can do and what we cant do are all specified in the signed agreement of "purchase and support".
I was always attending one training or the other, in foreign countries. (dont ask me about the Out of station allowance o! ).

So, with some help from them, and not being novices ourselves, we were able to know where to go and what to change.

Four Months was to start the "actual implementation of scenarios and options we had figured-out. You cant start tampering with a working program, too early moreover, we had other daily routine jobs we do on a daily basis.

Advice: Stay with software development and/or Security. Avoid Network/hardware, if you are still young.
Those are sterile areas, going forward.

Cheers.


Lastpage!

I am watching "Screening" O!

dannio:
Please l want to ask why is it difficult and very impossible for those who have left the banking system and wish to come back into the system.l mean you hear statement like they need people who are still in the system

Depends on why they left, where they left to and what they have been doing since they left..... in terms of how relevant.
Even more importantly, Management level cadre more easily integrate back into the system, than those on lower level because at a certain level, its not how much you know (technically).... but a case of "Human and Resource Mgt", to achieve set Objectives, coupled with what connections you have that can bring-in needed Funds".


Hope that helps?


Lastpage!