As someone who is working for a large bank in Australia on an aggressive, user-centered refresh of their online system, I'm getting a kick out of this question.
Yes, banks hire UX designers. Many banks don't. Some banks hire designers and have a culture that doesn't value the profession. Some banks hire bad designers.
Banks that "get it" equate user experience with things like retention, customer satisfaction and net promoter score. They look at ways to make the experience better because it's a long term benefit to both the customer and the bank. Those aren't typical, but they are out there. Also keep in mind that many smaller financial institutions like credit unions WANT to do more user-centered design, but aren't in a position to invest in such activities.