Teamwork Makes the Dream Work for New WSFS Associate

Erica McMullen was all set to start her new job as Senior Credit Officer, Credit Administration at WSFS Bank when she found out her first day was also the day the Bank would be moving most employees to remote work to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

While starting at a new organization can present its challenges, she quickly learned just how ingrained a team-first attitude is at WSFS and how integral that can be in onboarding.

McMullen, based in the Bank’s Wilmington office, said frequent video conferences have helped her get up to speed quickly while also getting to know her team.

“Thanks to technology, I’ve been able to forge fast relationships with my fellow Associates and ‘meet’ them face-to-face through regular video calls,” she said. “It’s been a tremendous experience and has quickly made me feel a part of the team.”

In her new role, one of McMullen’s first tasks was helping Customers put together applications for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

While working on high-pressure projects such as PPP loans can lead to some late nights, McMullen has found the extra effort well worth it in the name of Customer service.

“During the first round of PPP applications, we were working on an application for one of our commercial customers at 8 p.m. and I had some questions,” she said. “The customer made themselves available, well past normal business hours, and was very appreciative that we valued their relationship enough to make sure the application was processed before the day ended. Hearing the customer’s appreciation and gratitude for what we were doing made the late nights worth it!”

While starting a job amid the worst pandemic in more than a century is far from the norm for most, McMullen has embraced the challenge.

“It’s been a journey,” she said. “Switching to a new organization during such an unprecedented time has certainly been interesting. While starting a new job remotely can often lead to feeling isolated and being out of the loop, it has been the exact opposite at WSFS. The leadership team has kept the team well informed throughout the process and it’s provided a great learning experience.”

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