banking jobs

Modern banks have highly trained staff to provide top quality service to customers. Other financial institutions, such as insurance companies, now offer most of the services that banks provide. Due to this intense competition, banks need top quality staff who are talented, reliable and communicative. Many banking jobs are in specialized areas like IT and corporate banking.

Entry-level jobs will likely include check processing so the clerk can meet tight deadlines for overnight delivery to the bank’s head office. These employees are also involved in answering customer questions and are the bank’s front-line executives.

If the employee shows aptitude and initiative, he can become a supervisor, taking responsibility for his own team. Once this employee passes his professional banking exams, he can be in charge of the entire branch. Graduates can expect to be placed on an accelerated learning course, spending around two years moving through different jobs within the bank while learning how the bank works before being promoted to a management position. Managers need extensive knowledge of the financial services available and must know when to bring in specialist advisers from other areas of the bank.

All bank staff are expected to attend regular internal training courses throughout their career to learn about new developments. Staff work hours are generally 9 am to 5 pm, but work patterns may vary. Some branches will be open on Saturdays and some will even be open on Sundays.

Salaries depend on the roles and responsibilities of the employee and the location of the bank. Most banks operate on an annual appraisal system and salary increases are awarded based on the employee’s performance during the year. Profit sharing, subsidized mortgages and non-contributory pension plans are part of their remuneration package.

There are a wide variety of opportunities in commercial banking, starting at the branch level. The different job options are Credit Analyst, Loan Officer, Branch Manager, Escrow Officer, Mortgage Banker and other jobs in Accounting, Marketing and Advertising, Commercial Card Operations, Value Transfer, Electronic Operations, Private Banking, Service and cash management and communications operations. In the case of investment banking, career options are multiple in areas such as corporate finance, M&A deals, project finance, derivatives finance, international sales, and retail brokerage.