When it comes to the future, you can never start too early. For example, take Regions Bank and its Emerging Talent Program.
This unique, comprehensive early career program welcomes college students and recent college graduates to Regions’ culture and opportunities, in turn helping them build a career in banking and beyond.
Real world experience and advice
Learning and Development leader Janel Taylor leads the team of associates who oversee the program in collaboration with Program Managers in Regions’ business and support groups, helping its scale and scope expand each year. While the Emerging Talent Program aligns with the bank’s strategic priorities it offers so much more.
Our early career program gives participants incredible hands-on experience and exposure to a variety of areas and leaders throughout the bank.
The 2025 summer program kicked off with 112 interns and 54 full-time analysts joining the bank. Participants heard first-hand from executive leadership about their own career journeys in banking, took part in professional development workshops and participated in community service activities as a team.
“Our early career program gives participants incredible hands-on experience and exposure to a variety of areas and leaders throughout the bank,” Taylor shared. “Through mentorship, community service, and ongoing training, we are investing in the next generation of talent, supporting young leaders while they grow their careers at Regions.”
The Future of Regions
The Emerging Talent Program is one highly visible way Regions Bank recruits and develops the next generation of leaders, demonstrating how they can grow their careers while also growing the bank.
Rodney Young is a Talent Management Program Manager, managing the Emerging Talent Program.
“The Emerging Talent Program is the future of Regions,” Young shared. “From visibility to live deals in some of our revenue-generating groups or working on an activation for a new strategic initiative in one of our support functions, participants have the opportunity see first-hand how the bank operates and to share their perspective as part of their role.”
The proof of the program’s effectiveness? Over the years, numerous young professionals who were introduced to Regions as Emerging Talent Program interns returned as Emerging Talent Program analysts, beginning full-time roles at the bank.
The Emerging Talent Program is the future of Regions.
Sydney Johnson began her career with Regions as an Emerging Talent Program intern in 2021. After college, she joined the company full time as part of the Emerging Talent Commercial Development Program where she now service as a Treasury Management Relationship Manager in the Corporate Banking Group.
“Throughout my internship I learned a lot about the culture of Regions and also that banking is a much broader world than I originally thought. One of the benefits of being in the Emerging Talent Program is the focus on development. Every manager is dedicated to your growth, and they will continually push you to learn.”
Luke DePiero joined the bank as an intern in the Asset Management Group and today serves as a Wealth Planning Analyst.
“This is a one-of-a-kind program – with opportunities to gain knowledge and insights that really jumpstart your career. One thing that surprised me as a recent college graduate was how it allowed me the opportunity to build relationships early on – both with other associates in the analyst program and with the more senior planners and advisors on our team. There is so much knowledge they have to give. Being on the receiving end of that is very fun, especially at a young age.”
Avery Anderson began her career as an intern in the Human Resources group in 2023. Today, she supports the program as a member of the Learning & Development team.
“When you intern with Regions, we’re not asking you to silo yourself into one area. Instead, we want our Emerging Talent Program participants to make connections across the bank that allow them to learn about other roles. During my internship, I was exposed to many areas of HR, and jobs that I did not know were career opportunities coming out of college. Better yet, through the program, I had a chance to get to know those roles and hear from leaders in different areas of the bank to inform my next career move.”
Kennedy Hicks began her career as an Emerging Talent Program intern in 2019. Today she is a supervisor in the HR Connect contact center.
“The Emerging Talent Program prepared me for my career because it gave me a wide variety of mentors who I have been able to lean on for guidance and support throughout my career here. What I found most surprising and fun about the Emerging Talent Program is all the friends I was able to make. Regions really means it when they say that you’re going to find your ‘BFAW’ – your Best Friend at Work!”
Want to learn more about the Emerging Talent Program at Regions? Visit the Emerging Talent page.
Regions’ Emerging Talent Program interns gain hands-on experience through mentorship, special projects, job shadowing and more. Case in point: meet some of the 2025 Emerging Talent Program interns featured in this video. Planning and production courtesy of Regions Bank’s Marketing & Communications interns.
Careers at Regions: Empowered to Thrive
Associates are Regions’ most valuable asset. We are building the best team by empowering our associates to connect, belong, grow, achieve and thrive. Looking for a place to where you can thrive? Visit the Careers page on regions.com to view current job listings and to learn more about working at Regions.
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