When Jim Kolis graduated from Illinois State University in winter 2024, he hoped to find a job opportunity close to home in Springfield. A post on LinkedIn about INB’s Graduate Trainee Program caught his eye.
“The INB posting jumped out to me because I had been looking at getting a job in banking and I was interested in the department rotation aspect of it,” Jim shares.
INB’s Graduate Trainee Program is a 24-month rotational experience for recent graduates in business, finance, or related fields. Trainees rotate through key areas of the bank – retail, treasury sales, wealth, credit, and commercial portfolio management – before choosing a track in either wealth or treasury/commercial sales.
“This structure helps them solidify their skills by working alongside internal experts and participating in external trainings, with the goal of preparing them for a long-term sales role,” explains Rachel Selvaggio, AVP, Corporate Trainer at INB.
Jim is currently navigating the program alongside Charles Peters, a New Berlin native who earned his degree in Human Resources management with a minor in finance from Eastern Illinois University in May 2025.
“I learned about this program on Indeed; I was interested because I already had 2 years of banking experience, and INB is much bigger than my previous institution,” Charles says. “I had familiarity with the industry and felt like I could go straight into understanding products and services deeper.”
During the selection process, INB looks for recent graduates with relevant experience in banking or sales, paired with a business or finance degree, Rachel shares.
“Both Charles and Jim stood out as strong fits for the program,” she says. “They bring the right foundation, professionalism, and drive to make the most of the rotations.”
Exploring Every Corner of Banking
The Graduate Trainee program is designed to grow future leaders by giving participants hands-on experience across the bank.
“By developing talent from within, we give trainees the chance to explore different areas of the business while aligning with the needs of the bank and the communities we serve,” Rachel explains.
For Charles, exposure to different areas of the bank has been extremely valuable.
“Getting the chance to see different departments of the bank and how they interact has given me a new perspective,” he says.
So far, Jim says Retail has been particularly interesting, especially the teller line.
“I’ve very much appreciated the different areas we’ve gotten to visit and learn about so far, and I’ve especially enjoyed working with everyone in Retail and meeting all the customers that visit us every day,” Jim says.
Launching a Banking Career
Both Jim and Charles see the program as a launchpad for careers in banking.
“My goal is to find the department at INB that best fits me and best serves the bank,” Charles says.
Experiencing many different facets of the bank gives them both clarity on what the next step will be on their long-term career paths.
“My favorite aspect has been getting to meet all the different people in the bank that allow it to operate so well every day,” Jim shares. “I hope to build connections with everyone I meet throughout this process and hopefully add value to the bank throughout the program.”