Intern, Public Policy

We are a hybrid, remote-office company dedicated to growing our talent anywhere!

We have onsite locations in: Sioux Falls, SD,  Scottsdale, AZ,  Louisville, KY,  Troy, MI,  Franklin, TN,  Easton, PA.

At Pathward, we take tremendous pride in our purpose to create financial inclusion for all™. We are a financial empowerment company that works with innovators to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity for all.  We strive to remove barriers that traditional institutions put in the way of financial access, and promote economic mobility by providing responsible, secure, high quality financial products.

We are a team of problem solvers and innovators who celebrate our differences and know that our unique perspectives make us stronger and well-positioned for success.  We celebrate, and embrace, our team members through our *HUMBLE*HUNGRY*SMART approach, and we believe that we are strongest when we embrace the voices of our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve. 

About the Role:

Washington, D.C. 

The Public Policy Intern will support Pathward’s policy function on issues affecting the banking, payments, and financial technology sectors. This is a paid summer internship designed to provide exposure to how a national bank evaluates and responds to legislative and regulatory developments. 

Pathward operates at the intersection of banking, payments, and financial technology, and is also a leading U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development lender and participant in Small Business Administration (SBA) programs supporting small business and rural financing. The Public Policy function engages on issues including financial services regulation, payments policy, and bank–fintech partnerships. 

This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates based in the Washington, DC area or able to be in DC periodically, as the role may include occasional in-person engagement (e.g., meetings, events, or briefings). The internship is expected to run from June through August, with flexibility around start and end dates based on academic schedules. The role may be structured as full-time or part-time, depending on candidate availability, with an expectation of consistent weekday engagement during standard business hours (Eastern Time). 

What You Will Do:

• Monitor and summarize federal legislative and regulatory activity relevant to financial services (e.g., banking, payments, digital assets)
• Draft short internal memoranda analyzing policy developments and their potential business impact
• Analyze how legislative and regulatory developments apply to specific business models, products, and partnerships, including identifying potential risks and considerations
• Support preparation of internal briefings and materials for senior leadership
• Conduct targeted research on financial services policy issues and industry trends
• Assist with tracking stakeholder engagement across Congress, regulators, and industry groups 
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Will Need:

• Current law student (1L or 2L) or graduate student in public policy or a related field
• Interest in financial services policy, banking, payments, or fintech
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to analyze complex information and communicate it clearly
• Experience with legal, policy, or regulatory research preferred 

The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.

Salary range:  $14 hourly – $23 hourly

 
The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for a new hire in this role. Individual pay within the range will be determined by multiple factors which can include but are not limited to a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your location during the hiring process. Ranges may be modified in the future.
This role is also eligible for an annual performance-based incentive opportunity.  Pathward offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including health insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, paid time off, and more.

#LI-Remote

 

Don’t have everything listed under qualifications? If you’re excited about this role but your experiences don’t match exactly to everything in the posting, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be ju