Banking on Success

UNO freshman and Omaha native Jacob Caniglia discovered his passion for finance early—thanks to a high school counselor, a summer camp, and a relentless curiosity that landed him a job at Dundee Bank---before he even graduated high school!

Why it matters:
His journey highlights the power of experiential learning and how UNO’s connections to Omaha’s business community create real-world opportunities for students.

For Jacob Caniglia, finance has always been part of life. From helping his family’s convenience store find the best deals to reselling items from garage sales, he was unknowingly learning business fundamentals from a young age. But it wasn’t until a summer finance camp through UNO’s Prep Academy that he saw finance as more than just a personal interest—it could be his future.

“I originally started in my high school’s construction academy, but I realized pretty quickly that wasn’t for me,” he said. “My counselor told me about the CBA Prep Academy finance camp, and I signed up that same day.”

That decision changed everything.

The camp introduced him to professionals in the field, including Dundee Bank employees, who answered his endless questions about banking. His enthusiasm caught the attention of Kim Jensen, the bank’s vice president of HR and recruiting. What started as an inquiry about job shadowing turned into something bigger—an actual job offer.

“I started working there in January of my senior year [of high school],” he said. “They were super flexible with my school schedule, and now, as a college student, I still work there as a relationship banker.”

His role goes beyond teller duties—he opens accounts, helps clients with financial products like CDs and money market accounts, and, most importantly, builds relationships.

“I’ve met so many business owners in Omaha,” Caniglia said. “It’s great networking because you see them as real people, not just business professionals.”

While banking is his current focus, his ambitions stretch beyond the teller window.

“I’d love to get into financial planning, estate management, or even marketing,” he said. “I really enjoy talking to people and helping them figure out how to manage their money.”

That entrepreneurial mindset extends beyond banking—he’s also part of a fast-growing energy drink startup called 2XP Energy, helping get the brand into local stores.

His time at UNO is just beginning, but he’s already looking for ways to get more involved, including potentially joining the Maverick Investment Club. With concentrations in finance and accounting, he’s excited about his future.

“UNO has always been my first choice,” he said. “There are just so many opportunities here. I always knew I wanted to stay in Omaha, and the UNO College of Business Administration is the best place for me to build my future.”

What’s next:
For Jacob, the journey is just getting started. Whether in banking, financial planning, or entrepreneurship, he’s already laying the foundation for a successful career—one that started with a summer camp and a simple question: “How does this all work?”