To improve the customer experience, SCBT has introduced a new state of the art SCBT Teller Training Center that is the first of its kind.

Located at 520 Gervais Street in Columbia’s Innovista, the SCBT Teller Training Center is the first training facility that provides a fully functioning branch for employees to learn simulated on–the– job–training.

“This advanced training and simulation center is an excellent example of the kind of private sector companies that will continue to be attracted to Innovista’s live, work, learn, and play environment,” said Dr. Harris Pastides, president, University of South Carolina.

SCBT conducts approximately 1,248 hours of teller training per year. The new center will allow the bank to provide an atmosphere for tellers to learn all the daily job requirements in a simulated work setting so that they can perfect their skills before getting in front of customers.

Students will go through one week of classroom training, followed by one week of “on the job” training in the Teller Training Center. For the “on the job” training, the tellers arrive at work and go through the same process of opening the branch as they would in a normal workday.

“At SCBT, we believe in the success of our people, and we believe in providing excellent customer service,” said John Pollok, CFO and COO, SCBT. “This facility will allow tellers to learn how to do everything the right way before they deal with an actual customer.”

The center has a fully functioning security system and includes one of every type of lock that an employee would have to operate. It also includes a fully functioning pneumatic tube system, handicapped window, and night deposit drop.

The Teller Training Center is one part of renovations to provide a central training facility for employees. Previously, the training had been based in the Main Banking Center in Orangeburg. With the growing needs of the SCBT Customer Care Center, the decision was made to expand the Customer Care Center operations, which required additional space. The Main Banking Center was renovated to accommodate their needs, and the training department moved to the SCBT Headquarters building in Columbia to provide a more central location for statewide training.

“Providing fast, friendly and accurate service has been a hallmark of our company for over 75 years, and this is just one more way to make sure that our service levels are second to none," said Pollok.

The renovations to the Gervais Street location include a large meeting room that can accommodate up to 120 people and an IT training room that provides hands on training for up to 15 students at a time.

More information can be found at www.SCBTonline. com.