Yesterday 22 school students visited Industra Bank to gain insight into the day-to-day life of a bank, explore different roles, and get a closer look at the financial sector.

Shadow Day gives young people the opportunity to see how classroom knowledge and an interest in a particular field translate into real working life. For the Industra Bank team, it was important to show that a bank is not just about numbers and processes — it is an environment where decisions are made every day, solutions are found, and businesses are supported in their growth.

The students admitted they had no idea how many different departments a bank has — many of which remain invisible to clients. Others were surprised to hear from one of our colleagues that even what may seem like an innocent joke can, in some cases, end with a conversation at the police station.

Here are some reflections from our Shadow Day participants:

Paula, 16:
This was a very valuable and interesting experience. During the day, I gained a much better understanding of how a bank works and what happens behind the scenes. It broadened my perspective on what I may want to do in the future. It was one of the most interesting and educational Shadow Days I have taken part in.

Marats, 16:
I was expecting a dull talk about banking, but instead I was met with an engaging game and a tour.

Emīlija, 18:
It was really nice to be here today. My conversation with the specialist I had chosen was very useful and will definitely help me better understand what I might like to do in the future. I am very glad I had the chance to do my shadowing here.

Gabriela, 12:
What I enjoyed most today was learning how cards work and how payments are made. At the moment, I am interested in becoming an orthodontist, because I have found working with teeth fascinating since childhood. What I learned here could help me in the future when I am older and want to buy a house.

Līna, 18:
I gained a lot of new knowledge about banking and its processes. I also learned what kinds of personal qualities suit particular professions. In the future, I would like to work in finance, which also fits well with my strengths.

Adriāns, 13:
Today I really liked seeing how money is counted and hearing a detailed explanation of what each person does.

Marta, 12:
Today I learned a lot of new things. I had never imagined a bank had so many departments. I also found the idea of wooden cards very interesting — I would like one myself. I think that is much better than plastic.

Amanda, 17:
I had the opportunity to shadow a loan transaction manager, where I learned how lending deals are handled, how contracts work, and how calculations are made. What surprised me most was how detailed the knowledge of real estate has to be. This experience gave me a much clearer understanding of working in a bank and allowed me to experience the great atmosphere here.

Sofija, 13:
Today I really enjoyed hearing the story of how money and banks came into existence. I learned many new things. It was very interesting to find out why people choose this profession and what they actually have to do in their work. And today was really lovely!!!

Niks, 16:
I learned more about banking. I found out about new professions I did not know about before. I still do not know what I want to do in the future, so this was a very good insight into different fields.

Eduards, 7:
Today I really liked seeing the money-counting machine. I also liked seeing the other parts of office. Everything else was not as interesting as the money counter. But it was still really cool.

Thank you to the wonderful young talents who took such an active part in Shadow Day — future professionals and entrepreneurs who will help shape Latvia’s economy in years to come.