Through the U.S. Bank tuition reimbursement and university partnerships, team members can pursue degrees, certificates and skills-based learning, and keep growing their careers
Key Takeaways
Recruiter Jacky Tavares says the MBA she earned through tuition reimbursement strengthened her communication and leadership skills, and her story now helps her attract candidates.
Nearly 600 U.S. Bank employees received tuition reimbursement from January through July 2026, split almost evenly between graduate and undergraduate programs.
For years, Jacky Tavares wanted to earn an MBA to advance her career. But with undergraduate student loans to still pay off, graduate school felt out of reach.
Then an email landed in her work inbox with an unexpected opportunity: earn a tuition-free master’s degree. Less than two years later, the Las Vegas-based recruiter graduated with her MBA from American InterContinental University (AIU).
“It was such an awesome experience with AIU and I’m so glad that I did it,” Tavares said.
Tavares took advantage of the U.S. Bank tuition reimbursement program, which supports employees pursuing college courses, certificate programs and skills-based learning. Employees working 20 or more hours per week may be eligible for tuition assistance. For Tavares, it was an opportunity to keep building her expertise while shaping what might come next in her career.
Putting the MBA to work
She’s already putting what she learned to work.
Tavares recruits candidates for the bank’s 24-hour customer call center operations, and she said her MBA coursework strengthened her communication and leadership skills while giving her new perspectives on working with people and teams.
Just as importantly, she said, her experience has become a powerful recruiting tool.
“It’s a great hook for a candidate who is interested in going to college or finishing up their college degree to be able to say this is a benefit that the bank provides, and how well it worked for me personally,” she said.
Growing participation across the bank
From January through July 2026, nearly 600 U.S. Bank employees have received tuition reimbursement, with participation nearly evenly split between graduate and undergraduate programs.
“We want our employees to continue learning and growing throughout their careers,” said Evette Hernandez-Leadbetter, head of benefits at U.S. Bank.
“Tuition reimbursement helps make education more accessible while enabling employees to build skills they can use today and take with them into future opportunities.”
Balancing work, family and school
As a single mother of two, Tavares said the flexibility of AIU’s online coursework was critical to her success. After finishing her workday at U.S. Bank, she could easily transition into classes and coursework from home.
Initially, she worried an online program might feel isolating. Instead, she found a community of classmates balancing many of the same responsibilities.
“When I went to Atlanta for graduation to walk across the stage, I finally got to meet all of my peers in person,” she said. “We were all at different ages and stages of our lives, but almost all of us were working at the same time we were getting our degree.”
Advice for other employees
Tavares encouraged others to explore the educational opportunities available through U.S. Bank.
“I tell people all the time: take advantage of the benefits,” she said. “You never know where they can take you.”
To see where a career at U.S. Bank could take you, explore open roles.
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