BankWork$™, an eight-week free training program that places low-income young adults and those with barriers to employment in jobs in the financial services industry, announced today it has partnered with SER-Jobs for Progress, a Houston non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, job training and employment services for communities in need, to expand its program to Houston. The partnership with SER continues the national expansion goal to place 1,200 to 1,500 graduates in financial services industry careers annually by 2019.

“SER has an impressive operation in Houston, and they are dedicated to providing training in the skills that employers demand,” said Colleen Anderson, Executive Director at BankWork$™. “We’ve found a partner whose values are well aligned with ours. Together, BankWork$™ and SER will provide skills and job training to help ensure graduates are hired into positions in the financial services industry and advance in their careers.”

SER provides education, training and employment services that empower individuals, businesses and communities. Founded in 1965 as a volunteer job bank, the organization now works to place economically challenged individuals into productive employment throughout the Greater Houston area. SER recently celebrated 50 years of transforming lives and has helped tens of thousands of Houstonians obtain employment.

“Everyone has potential to better their life,” said Nory Angel, SER Executive Director and CEO. “In partnering with BankWork$, SER is able to bring this proven program to the local community, equipping our participants with the skills needed to break in to jobs in the financial services industry and put them on track for a fulfilling career.”

The BankWork$™ program launched in Los Angeles in 2006 and has expanded to Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix and Portland, Oregon to date and plans to launch operations in Houston, Denver and Chicago in 2016. The organization partners with leading nonprofit vocational training organizations in each market – organizations like SER – to offer the free program to young adults from low-income communities and those with barriers to employment. The eight week course equips graduates with the hard and soft skills needed to become qualified candidates for in-demand jobs such as tellers, customer service representatives and personal bankers.

Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation have each pledged $1 million to support a national rollout that will bring the BankWork$™ program to more than 15 markets over five years. The national expansion goal is to place 1,200 to 1,500 graduates annually in financial services industry positions by 2019.

About BankWork$™

BankWork$™ was started in 2006 in Los Angeles by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation in partnership with regional workforce development leader JVS Los Angeles. The program currently has operations in Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix and Portland, Oregon. As part of a five-year, $4-million national expansion in partnership with Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, the program will expand to Houston, Denver and Chicago in 2016 and to more than 15 markets by 2019. For more information, see www.bankworks.org.

About SER

SER seeks to enhance the quality of life in the Hispanic community and other communities in need by providing education, training and employment services that empower individuals, businesses and communities. SER - Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast, Inc. was founded in 1965 through the combined efforts of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the G.I. Forum and the Department of the Navy. It began as a volunteer job bank for Hispanic Veterans and is now a nationwide network of 42 affiliates operating in more than 200 offices. serhouston.org.