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Bangor Savings Bank’s (BSB) payroll operations procedures were spread throughout multiple platforms when Curtis Bibber began his summer internship.

91���� finance major set out to change that.

As a payroll operations intern, Bibber developed a centralized database for the bank’s payroll operations processes and procedures, consolidating information into a single location. He also created an automated monthly report to identify procedures that needed review or updating.

Bibber was one of three Maine Business School students who spent the summer taking on projects with real applications at the bank. Hope Milan and Micah Mosheyev contributed to initiatives in employee development and project management.

For the three 91���� students, the internships offered more than an opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice. They gave them the chance to contribute to the bank, build professional relationships and explore what careers in business could look like.

The experiences also highlighted the connections between Maine Business School students and Maine’s business community.

“Together, their work reflects the talent, curiosity and fresh perspectives,” said Hyemi Draheim, vice president, talent, diversity and belonging officer with the bank. “Their contributions have created real value for the bank while providing hands-on experiences that help prepare them for future careers and we are incredibly proud of the impact they have made this summer.”

Meaningful projects

Milan, a business administration and English double major from Brewer, Maine, worked in employee development, where her summer project included four major initiatives. 

She helped transform manager training into microlearning materials, expanded the department’s career coaching page, developed an internal mobility mapping process and designed a Growth Ambassador Pilot Program. 

Milan also created a prototype AI agent to help employees identify professional development resources that align with their career goals.

“I enjoyed having a meaningful project that impacted not only the department but the bank as a whole,” she said.

Mosheyev, a finance major with an international business concentration from Rockport, Maine, worked on improving the bank’s project intake process. He interviewed bank leaders, researched industry best practices and developed recommendations and resources designed to improve how projects enter his department.

The projects challenged the students to apply skills they had developed at the Maine Business School while also learning how to navigate problems that do not come with a textbook answer.

From the classroom to the workplace

The internships also gave the students opportunities to learn about areas of banking beyond their individual assignments.

“What I liked about Bangor Savings Bank was the emphasis on learning about banking as a whole, beyond just the department you are placed in,” Mosheyev said. “The BSB team also has a strong emphasis on professional development to make sure their interns are career-ready post-graduation.”

That professional development was built into the bank’s internship program alongside the students’ project work.

“Bangor Savings Bank intentionally invests in their professional growth by helping them leverage their innate strengths through CliftonStrengths, develop their personal brand and better understand how they work and collaborate with others through tools like the Predictive Index,” Draheim said. 

The students found the internship program through different paths.

Bibber, a finance major from Camden, Maine, was already working as a teller at the bank when colleagues told him about the opportunity. He chose to participate because he wanted to gain experience in different areas of the bank while building on his understanding of the organization’s culture.

Milan and Mosheyev learned about the program at the fall Maine Business School Internship and Career Fair.

Building connections

Beyond their projects, the students emphasized the relationships they developed during the summer.

“I have built amazing connections through this experience and I know I have their support in my future career endeavors,” Milan said. She particularly enjoyed being part of a nine-person internship cohort this summer. “After interning at BSB, I have become even more interested in working there, as their culture is very positive and employee-centered.”

Mosheyev also said the supportive culture at the bank was one of the highlights of his experience. His internship gave him opportunities to share his ideas with employees across the organization and see how they were received.

“Seeing how everyone truly valued each other and was so willing to support me, value my work and listen to my opinions made the experience so meaningful,” he said.

The internships gave the students hands-on experience, new perspectives on possible careers and professional relationships they can carry beyond the summer.

For Bibber, the value of an internship is simple.

“Absolutely do it! In a way, it’s the most valuable class you’ll ever take,” he said. “You gain real hands-on experience and you will make connections that will support your future.”

Mosheyev offered a similar message about taking advantage of opportunities when they arise.

“Take every opportunity that is thrown at you,” he said. “You never know where it will lead or how much you might get out of it.”

Contact: Melanie Brooks, melanie.brooks@maine.edu