U.S. Bank adds coaching services to its repertoire in Sammamish
Tamra Clark Champion remembers the exact moment when she realized that she had picked out her perfect career path.
She met a client from Sammamish who, after having gone through a difficult divorce, was struggling to pay off her various debts. However, by the end of their first coaching session together, the client had emerged with a manageable budget and a glimmer of hope.
“When I have those moments with my client, where I know that they are starting to realize that they are capable of doing whatever they’re set out to do, that’s the most powerful and rewarding moment,” Champion, 48, said.
This inspiring story is just one example of how the U.S. Bank Goal Coach Program, founded in 2020, has helped numerous clients explore their motivations and create financial timelines to accomplish their life goals.
Through free one-on-one coaching sessions, this program aids both U.S. Bank customers and non-customers in achieving life goals, such as setting up small businesses, creating retirement plans, or building careers. Based on one’s individual interests, these financial life coaches can personally connect people with various resources, such as access to business mentors.
Each coach is trained in behavioral science and goal achievement, but they all have a wide variety of backgrounds. Some specialize in financial services, while others have experience setting up small businesses. A few coaches are even military veterans.
Their diverse set of backgrounds leads to personalized experiences that give a human connection. Although most banking is done through websites and apps these days, customers can get the moral support from coaches that apps cannot provide.
Champion believes the human interaction is one of the reasons why the bank’s program has been met with such a positive response thus far.
“Everyone’s different, and I think that some people who are very comfortable with technology might enjoy using our mobile app. But some people really need that human touch of having someone listen and appreciate them for who they are,” Champion said.
The U.S. Bank Goal Coach Program encourages clients of any age and financial status to sign up for a 60-minute virtual session via an interactive calendar found on the program’s website. Participants do not have to be a U.S. Bank customer.
Sammamish is part of the program’s expansion into the Seattle area. U.S. Bank originally launched this coaching program in Las Vegas in 2020. They started piloting the program in Seattle this year through partnerships with the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce and United Negro College Fund. The program opened to the general public in late June, and has five coaches, including Champion, assigned to serve this region.
Champion said that the having their program open to the public, and not just U.S. Bank customers, is one of the key factors that makes it unique. It shows that their program embraces the variance of needs that the community around their bank branches may have, including Sammamish.
“Sammamish is just a very diverse community,” Champion said. “We specifically chose Sammamish because we thought it was a really great place for us to have a presence and for us to serve the community.”
