Intern Stories: Daniel Flores
April 01, 2024
Professional Opportunities & Mentorship
Daniel Flores is the inaugural intern at Heartland Bank! He joined the Credit Department as a Credit Associate Intern on January 26, 2024.
About Daniel
Daniel grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador with four siblings. He relocated to the United States to pursue a bachelor’s degree and is attending Illinois Wesleyan University. Daniel is working toward a degree in Finance. Seeking to maximize his undergraduate experience, Daniel applied to the Internship Program at Heartland Bank to gain industry knowledge. Outside of the internship and academics, Daniel enjoys running, playing soccer, and spending time with friends and family. Daniel is incredibly plugged in on campus. He is involved in the Finance & Investment Club, Soccer Club, and the international student community. He is also a frequent participant in Intramural Sports.
The Credit Department Internship
While getting oriented to Heartland, Daniel has found resources like the Credit Intern Training Manual, banking-related books, and mentors valuable to his learning and professional growth. He is also working on a Corporate Finance Certificate in LinkedIn Learning.
Specifically, the mentorship Daniel receives from Jake Seckler, Credit Operations Officer, and Josh McCauley, Credit Administrator, has included training on software platforms and hands-on experiences to learn Heartland’s processes of credit analysis. When asked about their time working together, Jake said:
Having Daniel join the Credit Team as an intern has been a true pleasure. From day one, Daniel has shown an eagerness to learn and has quickly grasped the big picture of what we do in Credit. He has been a model employee to kick off our Internship Program and has set the bar high for future Heartland Bank interns!
Daniel and his mentors have developed successful working relationships through open feedback, continuous learning, and positive reinforcement.
Daniel’s Perspective:
Here is what Daniel has to say about Heartland Bank.
Why did you choose to apply to Heartland Bank?
I applied here because I wanted to maximize my learning experience while in college. Heartland Bank’s commitment to helping families and businesses across the Midwest by providing personalized financial services is something that stood out to me. I want to help enhance the economic growth and well-being of individuals and businesses in my community.
What are your responsibilities in your role?
I am building professional skills by completing daily and weekly tasks, such as analyzing financial statements. I have had a chance to review and work with spreads, interact with ethical professionals, and learn more about the Bank’s policies. Working next to Credit Analysts has shown me what the job really takes.
How does the internship align with your career goals?
My goals include enhancing my knowledge about business practices and pursing a career in banking. I want to help my community and work for a reputable bank with high ethical standards. My internship has helped me make strides towards these goals by providing me with daily, real-life projects, amazing mentors and colleagues, and guidance on how to successfully break into the industry!
What advice would you give to intern candidates or future interns?
Go for it! Heartland Bank has excellent resources for interns to gain industry and career knowledge. The organizational culture offers mentorship and opportunities to learn and advance my knowledge of finance.
What else would you like to tell Heartland Bank employees about your experience?
I am so grateful to be a part of what is happening at Heartland Bank and can’t wait to keep learning more! My experience so far has been awesome, and I am looking forward to continuing to build relationships here.