Great technology and product, terrible leaders - Anonymous employee Happen Bank Employee Review

2.0
May 15, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Most of the rank-and-file workers are working hard and trying their best. There is good ability to be promoted quickly up the ranks. The product itself is really good and should help a lot of people. Despite my review, I have a lot of faith in the product.

Cons

They claim to be a technology company whose product is in financial services. However, let's be honest. They are a bank desperately trying to be a technology company. The execs are mostly pale white guys in button-down pale blue shirts...who mostly come from banks. They are trying to borrow the tech culture from the big boys in the Bay Area (Facebook, Google, etc.) but it feels desperate and no one there buys it. Everyone is constantly watching the bottom line, desperate to make margins for the quarter. They are obsessed with meeting analyst expectations each earnings. This causes some foolish behavior like delaying necessary training b/c it costs to much. Some of the C-suite are *terrible* managers, non-inspirational, and very into micro-management. HR seems to turn a blind eye to this. There is also some behavior that skirts very close to the law (see recent news on the founder/CEO's departure). Very little dialog on diversity. Great place if you are a white male. Not so much if you are anything but that.

Explore other reviews about Happen Bank

5.0
May 31, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

nice office and learned a lot

Cons

did not get to work too cross functionally

2.0
May 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent starting pay and some good teammates. The company is highly profitable and continues to grow. Opportunities to take on new responsibilities and expand your scope. Equity awards.

Cons

Over the course of several years, I have been given additional responsibilities multiple times without more compensation despite the company’s strong financial performance. While I’m happy to contribute, the pattern of increasing responsibility without recognition is a major demotivator, even to your most diligent employees. It's tiresome. It doesn't take much effort to make strong contributors feel seen and valued, and it's such a missed opportunity not to. The company frequently talks about culture and values, but there is infighting and rivalries between teams and individuals. That energy creates drama instead of collaboration and leads to repetitious mistakes. Good people — especially top performers — eventually leave because they can.

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