Career as Banker

Right from the entry-level to the senior level, the banking sector provides plenty of job opportunities. Since graduation is the only prerequisite, anybody with genuine interest in the banking field and is also good in numbers can become a banker. A banker is widely recruited by public sector banks, private sector banks, multinational banks, and also in financial institutions.

Graduates are usually recruited in retail banks. They are posted as bank tellers, personal bankers, loan managers, etc. You will be trained to manage all the administrative activities of the bank during your probation period. If you wish to join the RBI, then you will have to pursue a PG degree in econometrics or maths. If you also hold a PhD in the same field, the chances of selection are high. In case you wish to join a multinational bank, you have to pursue an MBA degree with specialization in Finance, business economics, law, public relations, etc.

Bankers are commonly recruited by the banks/companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Fidelity, Barclay’s, GE Caps, IDBI Capital markets, SBI Capital, Royal Bank of Scotland, American Express, Standard chartered, etc. Each of them has a separate recruiting process.

Mostly, banking is a desk job with fixed working hours. However, if you are in senior positions, you will have to spend extra hours depending upon the work assigned.Growth and salary in your banking career depends purely based on your performance and skills obtained. In addition to the salary, you will be eligible to enjoy benefits such as life insurance, holiday reimbursements, transport, and accommodation. An investment banker earns more than that of a retail banker/commercial banker. Let us now look at the popular banker job profiles and their salary in detail.

Irrespective of what type of banker you aspire to become, the essential requirement is to build a strong foundation in the basics of mathematics. Understand fundamental maths concepts thoroughly when in class X. Later, go for a group with commerce and maths in class XII. Though banks recruit graduates of any field, picking a graduate course in commerce/statistics/economics, will help you learn the basics of the banking industry. 

If you are planning to get into the entry-level of banking such as a PO, graduation is more than enough. If you are a science graduate, then go for a postgraduate diploma course in banking to understand the sector. You will then have to prepare for the standard entrance exams like IBPS, for public sector banks and clear the same. 

Private Banks, however, conduct separate exams and enrol the selected candidates in PG diploma courses compulsorily as part of the training period before posting them in branches. 

If you are planning to enter in a senior-level position, then opt for an MBA course with a specialized banking field like investment banking, finance, financial services, international services, etc. which in turn will land you a job with a lucrative salary in that particular field. 

Also, professional certification courses like Chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified financial planner (CFP), Financial risk manager (FRM), Chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), Certified public accountant (CPA), Certified management accountant (CMA), Chartered mutual fund counsellor (CMFC), Association of chartered certified accountants (ACCA), etc. will also help you advance in your career as a banker.

Since graduation can be done in any field and any right college, here is a list of top 3 colleges that offer postgraduate/diploma courses.