Avangard is a well-known commercial bank in Russia. The number of individual customers in 2018 exceeded 1 million people. The bank provides all types of financial services for private and corporate clients. The reviews of Avangard employees allow us to judge the activities of the company from the inside: the attitude of management, the level of wages and working conditions.
Information about the "Vanguard"
The core of the Avangard is the provision of banking services to the public. Both organizations and individuals can become bank customers.
The bank began operations in 1994. In 2018, it is included in the TOP-100 banks of Russia in terms of assets (56th place in the rating of the banki.ru portal). The main products of the bank are deposits and credit cards.
The Bank is the center of a large Russian financial group, which includes enterprises of the agro-industrial sector, including Avangard-Agro LLC and Avangard-Garant CJSC (insurance group).
The owner of Avangard is a Russian businessman Kirill Minovalov. He is the founder of a commercial bank. Minovalov accounts for 99.3% of the block of shares, the rest are held by minority shareholders and ordinary shareholders of the bank.
A feature of the structure of PJSC Avangard is the absence of preferred shares. More than 807 million shares of the bank in circulation are ordinary.
In 2004, Avangard entered the deposit insurance system. License No. 2879 for the implementation of activities issued by the Bank of Russia indefinitely.
Company Information Avangard-Agro JSC
Since Avangard Bank owns 19% in the holding of Avangard-Agro JSC, special terms and conditions for loans are provided to company employees. All employees receive wages on Avangard corporate bank cards.
The activities of Avangard-Agro JSC are in the development of agriculture in the territory of the Central Black Earth District. The parent company in the holding is one of the leaders in the Russian Federation in terms of quality and volume of agricultural products.
Employees in reviews of the Avangard-Agro company describe decent working conditions, a clear work schedule and prospects for development. More than 93% of workers are satisfied with their place of work and are happy to advise their friends.
Services of a commercial bank for individuals
For individuals, Avangard Bank offers the following services:
- contributions;
- credit and debit cards;
- loans, including car loans and mortgages;
- operations with securities and precious metals;
- Money transfers;
- payment for services to legal entities;
- purchase of air and railway tickets;
- Internet services and mobile applications.
According to the reviews of Avangard Bank employees, it can be judged that the most popular services for individuals are cards and deposits. Loans at Vanguard were less popular than credit cards.
Opening debit cards is also in demand by customers. At Vanguard offices, customers can become owners of unique plastic media with a display. There is no competition for a product with such functionality in the Russian market in 2018.
Work in the field of modern technologies was appreciated: Avangard was awarded the Best Internet Bank Russia-2018 Prize.
Offers for individual entrepreneurs and organizations
Special conditions at Avangard Bank are provided for agricultural workers. But other legal entities can count on:
- collection;
- opening and maintaining an account;
- settlement and cash services;
- opening deposits;
- acquiring services;
- registration of loans;
- salary project and issuing corporate cards for employees and management;
- payment for services;
- Internet service and business applications;
- operations with precious metals and securities.
According to Avangard Bank employees, most corporate clients apply for opening an account for an individual entrepreneur or organization, paying for services, and settlement and cash services.
Clients can apply for the installation of points for acquiring or calculate the cost of cash settlement services online.
For success in the field of banking offers for legal entities, Avangard was awarded the Best Corporate Bank of Russia 2018 prize in 2018.
Customer reviews of a financial institution
One of the advantages of the bank is its high quality service. This is confirmed by the leading positions in the rating of the banki.ru portal. In 2017, Avangard took 1st place in the list of the Popular Rating. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the feedback left by the portal customers about the activities of the banking organization, customer satisfaction with the quality of services and staff work.
In 2018, Avangard is also included in the TOP-5 of the best banks in terms of service quality (4th place). According to the reviews of Avangard employees, the management pays special attention to the level of service in the bank branch. Despite the growth in the number of branches (more than 300 in 2018) and customers (more than 1 million), the quality of customer service remains at a high level.
Job Requirements
Attractive working conditions and career prospects are what hundreds of potential bank employees pay attention to when looking for a new place. But not everyone can handle the requirements when applying for a job at Vanguard.
According to the reviews of employees, Avangard makes conditions for applicants depending on the specifics of their work. For example, an operator should have good computer skills, and a customer service specialist should also have experience in a similar field from 1 year.
All conditions are stated in the vacancies, which are presented on the official website of "Vanguard". But the approval of the position is possible only after passing through all stages of the interview.
Key requirements for applicants include:
- Computer skills;
- knowledge of the basics of banking;
- communication skills;
- competent speech;
- personal qualities (determination, responsibility, desire to work in a team);
- higher or incomplete higher economic education.
Work experience is not required in all areas. Most vacancies for beginners require employment without experience in the banking sector. But the applicant must show knowledge in this area and prove his desire to develop in business. Active sales skills are welcomed among the vacancies of sales managers (in retail and corporate business).
Testimonials about a job interview at Vanguard
Most negative reviews about the company describe difficulties in hiring a bank. Applicants do not like the interview format proposed by management, consisting of 4 or more stages. Additionally, each employee is checked by employees of the bank’s security service (and its immediate relatives).
Difficulties in the interview are related to passing the test with 400 questions. And he is not the only one. Future employees of the Avangard Bank must go through communication with several leaders of the bank. Each of the management staff seeks not only to find out more information about the future member of the team, but also creates specific conditions for determining the level of stress resistance of the applicant.
More than 4/5 candidates are screened out midway. The last stage of training is a free trip to Moscow. Road, food and training are paid by Vanguard.
The term of study in the capital is at least 5 days. As a result of the hearing, applicants must pass several exams. Upon successful passing the exam, they will become new bank employees. New customers are immediately registered under an employment contract. All documents are issued immediately after signing with the employer.
Training for members of the Avangard team does not end when hiring. In case of questions, beginners can always ask for help from the group curator by calling the internal line.
Opinion of employees about working conditions at Avangard Bank
Almost all (97%) employees are satisfied with the working conditions at Avangard Bank. The company’s offices are located in the central part of the city or large shopping centers. Therefore, it is not difficult for workers to get to the workplace.
The reviews of Avangard OJSC employees in St. Petersburg indicate that the working conditions in a financial institution are to the liking of those who are tired of sales plans. There are no mandatory plans for all employees at Avangard Bank. If the applicant is required for the position of an operator or customer relations specialist, he will not need to learn how to sell banking products.
The lack of work, some employees consider the location of branches in large shopping centers. These are the express offices of Avangard Bank. As a rule, they provide services only in cash settlement services and transfers. The number of employees in express centers does not exceed 2 people.
Since the centers are located on the territory of the outlet, many customers seek advice "not at the address." This distracts from work, especially when directly conducting the operation to a bank client.
In the reviews of Avangard employees, it was noted that most of the operation officers worked just in such offices. Many of them dreamed of a classic format: with 4-8 employees in various fields.
But the advantage of this type of work is remoteness from the authorities. Supervisors supervised from a distance by tracking conversations with customers. Therefore, they came to offices no more than 1 time per month. The constant recording of conversations demanded maximum concentration, competent speech and following service standards from employees.
If there are violations, this could affect the level of the annual premium. It was paid to Avangard Bank employees at the end of the year.
Bank salary reviews
One of the main advantages of Vanguard as an employer is a stable and high salary. According to the reviews of Avangard employees, those who got a job as an operator can count on a salary of 40 thousand rubles or more. The company has no wage delays.
According to the reviews of Avangard employees, the salary is always paid on time. All employees undergo training at the expense of the company before starting work. In the "Vanguard" all newcomers, even those who do not have work experience, are waiting for career prospects.
You can get into the express office of Avangard Bank or one of the usual branches. The list of vacancies is always on the official website of the company, indicating the mandatory requirements and the amount of work.
According to Avangard employees, the salary level in Moscow is 20% higher than in other regions. Workers can expect to be paid 60-70 thousand rubles just 3 months after being hired (in certain vacancies).
Get a new job can not only novice bank employees, but also employees with experience who have experience in senior positions. Registration in the Avangard Bank is carried out only under an employment contract.
Employee reviews in St. Petersburg indicate that the bank has virtually no "turnover". Workers like the terms and conditions of work proposed by management.
On the net, less than 3% of reviews are negative. They were left mainly by those who could not become a member of the bank’s team. Applicants who have been able to go through all stages of the interview are happy to work in a friendly team of "Vanguard".
Avangard LLC: the history of another company
The network has information about another well-known organization of the same name, which has nothing to do with a commercial bank and an agricultural holding. The largest branches of the outsourcing company LLC Avangard are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The organization is engaged in the supply and implementation of repair and construction works. The following sectors are involved in business: state and oil and gas sectors, IT-technologies, energy.
According to the reviews of Avangard LLC employees in St. Petersburg, working conditions comply with the standards of a large commercial organization. Offices are located in modern business centers, and points of sale are within walking distance from public transport.
Prospects for work in Avangard LLC
Applicants in Moscow and St. Petersburg are interested in working conditions in the new organization, which has already managed to win the trust of customers and become a famous brand.
According to the reviews of Avangard LLC employees in Moscow, working conditions are more than comfortable. The office is equipped with the necessary equipment. Employees were lucky enough to get to some points only with the help of the company's transport, which is very convenient (free of charge and at certain times).
There is no information on the network that the employer delayed wages for more than 2 weeks. Advances are paid regularly, in addition, in case of urgent need, the employee could receive part of the funds ahead of schedule (in agreement with the accounting and management).
The disadvantage of working at Avangard LLC, according to the opinions of St. Petersburg employees, is the vague career prospects. Not all categories of workers can count on an increase. Therefore, in some industries there is a "turnover" of personnel.
According to the reviews of Avangard employees, in St. Petersburg the salary is decent. On average, employees at the initial stage of work could count on income of 25 thousand rubles, after 2-3 months of work they already received 35-40 thousand rubles.
Relations in the team are very friendly. This is facilitated by the loyal behavior of the leadership. All managers personally know each member of the team, closely monitor the implementation of planned business indicators and help newcomers quickly get used to the new world of work.