Pros
The bank offers fairly good job security, benefits,training and initial salary. The work hours are very reasonable and management is flexible in how you set your work schedule. Holidays, sick days and personal obligation days are pretty good. The bank prides itself in creating a team environment; its one team one goal philosophy. The bank is fairly reasonable in the individual targets it sets for each employee, and management works closely with you to help you reach them. There is healthy competition, but no cut throat mentality. Overall work experience is positive.
Cons
Unless you work at the branch level, there are few opportunities to get into other departments if you live outside of Toronto or Calgary. The bank really follows the "corporate ladder" model, and if you are young and have any real career aspirations in the financial industry, get some experience and get out as soon as you can. HR is slow and difficult to work with, and the banks computer systems are not very user friendly. The banks culture is also very frugal. If you have no real career objectives, want a stable long term job that has decent pay and benefits, Scotiabank is for you.