THE BLACK COLLEGIAN- As a major player in the banking industry, to what does Chase attribute its growth and success?

Shipley- Our 1996 merger gave us tremendous scale in capital, customers and product capabilities which has enabled Chase to attain leadership positions across a wide set of businesses: from global investment banking and trading to the technology-intensive operating services sector to our national consumer services franchise.  This combination of scale and market leadership has driven greater efficiency, higher profitability and the capacity to invest for continued growth: in technology, in new business arenas and, most importantly, in the best people.  The key to growth and success in any industry is people: attracting and retaining talented, dedicated and creative people with the broadest range of backgrounds and experience.  To make that possible, we have worked hard at Chase to foster a culture of trust, where every individual is heard and respected, is rewarded for his or her unique contributions and is urged to grow professionally and personally.  I can't say enough about the team we have at Chase and their ability to work together!

THE BLACK COLLEGIAN- How viable is the banking industry as we approach the new millennium?

Shipley- These days, it's not just banking; we prefer to talk about broad-based financial services.  Consolidation, convergence and the power of advanced technology are changing the shape of the industry.  Chase is now a leader in investment banking and fixed income securities underwriting, areas we've built up rapidly in the past five years.  On the consumer side, we offer clients an array of financial options via a menu of delivery channels that, again, five years ago would not have seemed possible.  Looking broadly at the industry, I see an acceleration of the trends we have seen, putting even greater emphasis on scale, market leadership and the ability to continually invest in technology, new business opportunities and the diverse and talented workforce that will take us into the new century.

THE BLACK COLLEGIAN- Has Chase developed any special programs to interest entry-level minority job seekers in the banking industry?

Shipley- Chase has put a number of programs in place that support our company's goal of creating a corporate culture that is actively inclusive, where people are hired and recognized based upon their talent, creativity and skills. Indeed, to ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve, we aggressively recruit candidates of all backgrounds.  We have established close relationships with several Historically Black Colleges and Universities including Florida A & M,  Morehouse, Spelman and Howard.  In addition, since 1992 Chase has provided scholarships and internships for New York City residents through its Smart Start Program.  We also partner with INROADS and SEO, two organizations that identify top-level minority students for internships.  We view our internships at Chase as feeders for our entry-level development programs.  Interns are given challenging assignments during the summer and Chase executives serve as mentors.