Piedmont Federal launches management-training program with focus on minorities

(Source:wsJOURNAL)

Embracing an era of socioeconomic change has challenged the 117-year-old Piedmont Federal Savings Bank to conduct a self-evaluation of its role in the financial-services sector and the communities it serves.

The Winston-Salem bank launched last week what it calls a GPS Banker Development program — a yearlong, multi-faceted management-training initiative for new bankers. A principal goal is attracting more minorities into the banking industry. The bank is specifically recruiting business students from historically Black colleges and universities, said David Barksdale, who completes on Wednesday his first year as Piedmont’s chief executive.