Title: Banking services in Portugal: a preliminary analysis to the perception and expectations of front office employees

Authors: Joana Barbara Palma Ramos, Fernando A.F. Ferreira, Jose M. Monteiro Barata

Addresses: School of Management and Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Santarem, Complexo Andaluz, Apartado 295, Santarem 2001-904, Portugal. ' School of Management and Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Santarem, Complexo Andaluz, Apartado 295, Santarem 2001-904, Portugal; Fogelman College of Business and Economics, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA; CASEE – Centre for Advanced Studies in Economics and Econometrics, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. ' Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, Technical University of Lisbon (ISEG/UTL), Rua Miguel Lupi, 20, Lisboa 1249-078, Portugal

Abstract: The banking sector offers high rates of employment in Portugal. This study aims to determine the degree of satisfaction and career expectations of bank branch employees in the Portuguese region of Santarem to inform graduated students who search for job opportunities and professional careers in the banking sector. It should be highlighted that the region of Santarem has been selected based on reasons of convenience. In terms of empirical results, a questionnaire has been developed and it should be mentioned that the degree of satisfaction has been considered as high, i.e. despite the effects of several variables, such as the strategic impact of information and communication technologies, bank branch employees revealed themselves to be optimistic about their future and generally satisfied with their job positions.

Keywords: bank branches; banking services; banks; career expectations; front office employees; Portugal; employee perceptions; employment rates; job satisfaction; Santarem; student graduates; job opportunities; professional careers; ICT; information technology; communications technology; staff optimism; future prospects; management; enterprise development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2011.041549

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2011 Vol.10 No.2/3, pp.188 - 207

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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