OVERVIEW
What Is a Banker?
Bankers assist clients with various tasks, such as online payments, in-person withdrawals, and loan recommendations. Bankers often have degrees in business management, finance, economics, or mathematics and can begin their career after graduating with a bachelor’s.
There are several career paths within banking including investment banking, personal banking, wealth management, and bank management.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Banker Do?
Primarily, bankers assist with transactions, deposits, and investments. However, depending on the type of banker, their day-to-day responsibilities will vary. There are three main types of bankers: personal bankers, commercial bankers, and investment bankers.
Personal bankers often work in small retail banking branches and assist clients with their financial requirements. The responsibilities of a personal banker include:
- Opening checking and savings accounts.
- Connecting clients with mortgage and auto loans.
- Helping clients with banking investments.
- Resolving customer concerns.
- Offering ancillary products to account holders.
- Selling Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs.
- Assisting clients with retirement and college planning.
Commercial bankers work at larger banking institutions and often have more room for growth. Commercial banks can offer larger loans to clients, making commercial banks a more profitable option to larger companies. The responsibilities of a commercial banker include:
- All responsibilities listed for a personal banker.
- Working with large companies to sell loans.
- Evaluating risk levels when accepting large deposits.
Investment bankers work with banks to help clients reach their financial goals by issuing debt and selling equity. Their responsibilities include:
- Issuing debt and selling bonds.
- Researching market conditions.
- Implementing financial plans.
- Searching for new business opportunities.
- Negotiating new financial deals with clients.
Whether working in personal, commercial, or investment positions, the main goal of bankers is to meet the financial goals of customers and clients while protecting the interests of the bank.
Do Bankers Need Certifications?
Employers in retail and commercial banking don’t typically require certification; however, earning certifications may prove to employers that you have the necessary skills for the job. Retail bankers may consider earning a Certified Retail Banking Professional (CRBP) from the American Association for Investment and Financial Management (AAIFM).
The CRBP demonstrates that candidates have mastered retail management skills, the code of ethics, and are committed to AAIFM core values.
Investment bankers are required to have certifications to prove they can handle heavy workloads and understand the intricacies of markets, risk, financial modeling, and accounting.
Certifications for investment bankers include:
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA): Candidates must register with FINRA to work within a brokerage firm. After registering, candidates are also required to take several tests to prove they are qualified.
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): The CFA is a finance certification offered through the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.
- Financial Risk Manager (FRM): The FRM certification is a course that certifies that individuals are capable of assessing risk management and quantitative analysis.
- Financial Modeling Certification (FMVA): The Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst certification is a finance certification that ensures individuals can interpret financial accounts and assist clients in financial decisions.
Those interested in investment banking will also need to pass several exams:
- Series 79 exam: Also known as the Investment Banking Representative Exam, the Series 79 exam tests the competency of registered representatives.
- Securities Industry Essential (SIE) exam: The SIE exam is a FINRA exam that tests the candidates’ knowledge of basic security information and procedures.
Those interested in banking can take additional certification courses and exams as needed to prove their skills to their employer.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How to Become a Banker
Bankers help meet the financial needs of clients, individuals, and institutions. They often work with retail banks to maximize profits and limit risks. Bankers are individuals who are interested in personal finance, business, and math. The position provides various benefits and many opportunities for advancement.
What Are the Education Requirements for a Banker?
Most bankers need to receive a college degree. You may be able to work as a banker with just a high school diploma by applying for an internship program, but advancement opportunities and access to management or leadership positions will typically require a university degree in a relevant field.
The most common degrees for bankers include:
- Two-year associate degree in banking;
- Bachelor’s degree in business management or a Bachelor's degree in finance.
Those interested in banking positions with higher salaries, such as investment banking, will need to pursue a master of business administration degree. Earning a degree in business management or business administration will also help you prepare for management promotions within a banking institution.
Best Degrees for a Banker
Business
Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:...
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé this program will teach you include:
- Business communication
- Product development
- Decision making models
- Project management strategies
- Budgeting for business
This online degree program is an excellent choice for kick-starting your organizational management career.
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
Finance – B.S.
This online finance program is career-focused so you will gain relevant...
This online finance program is career-focused so you will gain relevant industry skills.
- Time: 62% of graduates finish similar programs within 24 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 41 courses in this program
Some careers and jobs this business degree will prepare you for:
- Management
- Accounting
- Finance
- Spreadsheets
- Financial Analysis
- Problem Solving
The competency-based model at WGU allows you to move as quickly as you can master the material, and do your coursework on your schedule. Flexibility is key with the B.S. in finance at WGU.
How Much Does a Banker Make?
$36,310
The exact income of a business manager varies based on a wide range of factors, including employer, employer location, years of experience, years of education, and existing skill set.
On average, the salary of a business manager is $63,072. The top 10% of business managers will earn as much as $116,000 in a year, while the lowest 10% of earners will make an estimated $42,000 during that same timespan.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
5%
Management jobs are expected to grow by 5% from 2019 to 2029, a rate faster than the average expected expansion across all occupations. This will mean an estimated 505,000 new management positions across a variety of different industries.
Exact business manager growth figures are largely dependent on the success of the respective industries hiring business managers. Because business managers are responsible for managing businesses in healthcare, educational, industrial, automotive, technological, and other markets, the outlook is difficult to forecast.
Still, the need for business managers to tie financial goals, employee management, and corporate best practices together is only expected to increase in years to come.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Banker Need?
Bankers will need myriad skills to help them communicate with clients, navigate finances, and stay organized. Some of the most essential skills include:
- Microsoft Office. Bankers must have the skills to use Excel and PowerPoint regularly.
- Sales experience. Many employers prefer bankers to have sales experience to better sell bank products and services to new and existing clients.
- Numerical skills. Bankers need to calculate APR rates and other finance-related math equations quickly.
- Time management. Investment bankers are infamous for working 15-hour days. They need to be adept at managing their time.
- Communication. Bankers communicate with clients, customers, and coworkers regularly to ensure that all processes are working smoothly.
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