FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha): Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

FNBO was founded in 1857 by brothers Herman and Augustus Kountze, who established the Kountze Brothers Bank in Omaha during the pioneer era. Edward Creighton, another notable Omaha business figure, was appointed president of the bank, which received national charter number 209 in 1863 and initially traded chiefly in gold dust and buffalo hides, reflecting the frontier economy of the time. The bank formally adopted the First National Bank name on July 1, 1865. The Kountze family's banking influence extended beyond Omaha, with additional Kountze brothers founding Colorado National Bank in 1866 and a New York City-based Kountze Brothers Bank in 1868.

Under the leadership of John Lauritzen in 1953, First National Bank became the first bank in the region and the fifth in the nation to issue credit cards, establishing a long tradition of payments innovation. In 1968, the bank reorganized as a subsidiary of a newly formed bank holding company, First National of Nebraska, Inc., due to real estate investments not permitted under a standard banking charter; the Lauritzen family has remained the primary owner of the holding company through the present day. In 1971, the bank moved into the 22-story First National Center in downtown Omaha, and later completed construction of the 45-story First National Bank Tower in 2002, which remains the tallest building in Nebraska.

FNBO has continued to grow through a series of acquisitions, including The Fremont National Bank and Trust Company and Platte Valley State Bank & Trust Company (both in 2014), First National Bank South Dakota (consolidated into FNBO's charter in 2014), and Western States Bank in Laramie, Wyoming (2022). Today, FNBO and its parent holding company, First National of Nebraska, have more than $30 billion in assets and employ more than 4,500 to 5,000 people across banking offices in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. FNBO's workforce includes bank tellers and customer service representatives, mortgage loan officers, wealth management professionals, and payment solutions and technology staff.

Company culture and employee programs: FNBO emphasizes core values of integrity, respect, and passion in all interactions with employees, customers, and shareholders, along with a mission centered on building long-term customer relationships. The bank has invested significantly in community programs focused on affordable housing, workforce development, and financial literacy, and was notably the first U.S. company to use fuel cell technology as its primary power source. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the banking and financial services industry, including FNBO, are legally required to conduct thorough background checks on employee candidates, given federal banking regulations in addition to standard employment screening. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

FNBO is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is both standard practice and a regulatory requirement for banking institutions, particularly given federal restrictions on employing individuals with certain criminal convictions in FDIC-insured institutions.

The hiring process for teller and banking roles at FNBO typically includes an application, one or more interviews, and a background check prior to a final offer, consistent with federal banking industry requirements.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a banking role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though the Federal Deposit Insurance Act imposes its own separate, often more extensive lifetime restrictions on banking employment for individuals convicted of crimes involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, but federal banking law under Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act prohibits FDIC-insured banks like FNBO from employing individuals with certain convictions, particularly those involving dishonesty or breach of trust, without prior regulatory approval. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that may apply differently in heavily regulated banking contexts.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements and applicable federal banking regulations.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what FNBO may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to FNBO or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.