Intern Stories: Vince Baldassri

While at ISU, Vince has served as the president of the Illinois State Students in Finance (ISSF) studentorganization. He is very grateful to have been reelected for a third year as he finishes his studies next spring. Vince is also involved as a member of the Student Leadership Advisory Board (SLAB) for the College of Business. Lastly, Vince spent a year on the Illinois State Western Equestrian team where he was able to travel and compete in horsemanship shows while representing ISU.

Outside of the internship and academics, Vince enjoys spending time with his wife, Gracie, family and friends, camping, listening to podcasts or audio books, and taking care of his horse, Delia.

The Credit Department Internship

While getting oriented to Heartland, Vince has found resources like the Credit Intern Training Manual, case studies, practice examples, and financial puzzles to be incredibly helpful. Vince’s mentors have been valuable to his learning and professional growth.

One of the best aspects of the internship for Vince has been the willingness of the Credit Department to allow him to learn on the job, giving him ample opportunities to try new things. With the help of his colleagues, Vince overcame the challenge of using all the different programs across the Bank. Jake Seckler, Credit Operations Officer, and Vince’s colleagues in the Credit Department have been eager to help him whenever needed.

When asked about their time working together, Jake said:

“It has been a pleasure working with Vince since his internship began. He asks great questions and is always looking for ways to get more involved with the department. He’s already helped us with several projects and fits right in with the rest of the team. I’ve greatly enjoyed working with Vince this summer!”

Vince is thankful for the mentorship and help from everyone in the Credit Department. Everyone has been super helpful, and Vince feels lucky to work with such a great team

Vince’s Perspective

Here is what Vince has to say about Heartland Bank.

Why did you choose to apply to Heartland Bank?

I applied to Heartland Bank to develop my analytical skills further and learn about the intricacies of a company’s financial performance in a real-world setting. The credit associate internship seemed like a great way to learn how different industries best use their capital to grow and create successful, long-lasting businesses. When I asked professors or speakers on campus, they all recommended Heartland because of it’s reputation.

The size of the bank was also aligned with my preference. It’s just the right size that I could really immerse myself in the work, getting a great education on a wide array of clients and business practices without feeling like I was just ‘another cog in the wheel.’ I feel like I have really gotten to know the people I work alongside and am building relationships with great people.

What are your responsibilities in your role?

I have been privileged to create financial spreads for loan officers, track down municipal loan obligations, work on case studies and credit analyses with team members, fill out sections of reports for team members, and analyze borrower’s financial statements. I also crack financial puzzles with my coworker Matt Hanson, Credit Analyst.

What advice would you give to intern candidates or future interns?

I would tell them to apply for the internship! My experience at Heartland Bank has been very insightful, and it has been a pleasure to work with everyone within the Credit Team. I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity and lucky to have an internship where I am excited to come in the next day and see what is new!

How does the internship align with your career goals?

In the future, I would like to build relationships with companies and individuals who want to understand their investments better to achieve long-term goals. In a few years, I would like to understand financial engineering and develop an artificial intelligence model that can look at the many variables behind an investment, as well as the goals of the investor, to give them reliable advice when developing their plans. The training and teaching during my internship have been phenomenal and is preparing me for my professional future

What else would you like to tell Heartland Bank employees about your experience?

I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to work alongside a wealth of outstanding professionals. I could not be more appreciative of the lessons this internship has taught me. I really cannot stress enough how much I have enjoyed working with the Credit Team, participating in analyses, and joining everyone for sand volleyball tournaments after work.

This experience has set the bar high for wherever the future takes me, and I look forward to continuing my education within Heartland Bank!