The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the digitization of companies in the banking sector, especially with the increasing number of payments and banking operations carried out online or through digital channels. This change in usage is leading to a reorientation of skill requirements in banks and an increase in recruitment. With nearly 370,000 employees, the banking sector is one of the largest private sector employers. In 2020, more than 21,000 people were hired in this way. If the evolution of the sector is the main cause, the numerous retirements have also contributed. It is estimated that 50% of the recruitments in the banking sector concern young people under 30 years old!
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What does the profession of banker consist of?
The banker, also known as financial advisor, account manager or banking advisor, has as main missions to welcome customers in the bank for which he works in order to offer them the banking products best suited to their needs. Customers can be individuals, professionals (liberals, craftsmen etc.) or companies.
Whether opening accounts, providing management advice or granting loans, the banker is constantly in direct contact with his clients to manage their financial assets on a daily basis.
Sometimes faced with complicated financial situations that they must manage, bankers must be good listeners and have the psychology to help their clients find the best solution. By studying the financial situation of his clients, he can then make proposals to optimize their financial assets.
Bankers generally work in banking and financial institutions such as stockbrokers, investment banks and depository banks. Bankers can more rarely be recruited by large companies or private management companies.
What are the main tasks of a banker?
- welcome customers to the bank
- monitor the bank accounts of its customers on a daily basis
- contact its customers in case of problems
- manage its client portfolio
- inform its customers of new banking products that may be of interest to them
- sell financial products and services
- make credit applications
- negotiate overdraft authorizations
- negotiate rates with clients
- negotiate contractual arrangements
- build customer loyalty
- to propose financial investments in order to optimize the banking assets of its clients
- prospecting for new customers
How to become a banker?
You will need at least a Bac +2 level if you wish to manage private clients and a Bac +4 / 5 level if you wish to manage a portfolio of large accounts (private individuals with a lot of assets or large companies).
However, it is important to note that in 2022, 60% of the job offers for bankers will be filled by people with a degree at Bac +4 or Bac +5 level.
Which BAC to be a banker?
To become a banker, you will need to have an STMG, general or professional bac. If you wish to enter a BTS in Banking, the various data show that among the students enrolled, nearly 45% have an STMG bac. Then come the holders of a professional baccalaureate with 14% of the enrolled students, followed by students with a general baccalaureate. While the choice of bachelor’s degree may not seem so crucial, it is important to note that banking jobs require being comfortable with numbers. Thus, we advise you to choose a baccalaureate that will allow you to master this skill.
Become a banker in 2 years
After your baccalaureate, it is possible tointegrate a BTS in the banking sector in order to be directly specialized. Indeed, the main objective of the BTS is to make the students professional and operational in a short time. This 2-year program will give you access to banking positions related to the management of a portfolio of individual clients. Here is the list of the main BTS concerned:
- BTS negotiation and customer relationship
- BTS banking
- BTS in negotiation and digitalization of customer relations (NDRC)
- BTS operational sales management (MCO)
- BTS management of commercial units (MUC)
Become a banker in 3 years
This 3-year program is designed to prepare you for the banking sector with a view to continuing your studies. Whether it is a BUT (Bachelor of Technology), a licence pro ora bachelor of business school, your training will be more focused on reflection and writing than on practice.
It should be noted, however, that this pathway is generally accompanied by an obligatory internship or work-study period in the third year, which allows students to acquire a greater knowledge of the field. This professionalization period will allow you to enter the market after obtaining your 3rd year diploma. Here is the list of the main courses concerned:
- Bachelor Finance
- Bachelor in charge of banking, finance and insurance clients
- Bachelor in Financial Management and Administration
- GOAL marketing techniques
- GOAL GEA
- Bachelor’s degree in insurance, banking and finance: client manager
Become a banker in 5 years
If you want to manage a portfolio of large companies or work in executive positions in the bank, you will need a Bac +4 or Bac +5 level. The Bac +5 level will allow you to obtain a Master’s degree, which is accessible through two routes: university or business school. Here is the list of the main courses concerned:
- Master 2 Legal and Financial Sciences
- Master 2 political science, finance option
- Master in wealth management
- Master of Science Banking Digitalization & Financial Manager
- Master of Science in Investment Banking & Financial Engineering
- Master of Science Financial Markets & Trading
What are the qualities needed to become a banker?
In order to work as a banker, certain qualities are necessary and even indispensable:
- Relational skills: it is important to be able to maintain good relations with your customers in order to build loyalty
- Commercial sense: one of the main missions of the banker is to sell financial products and services but also to negotiate, it is therefore essential to master commercial techniques
- Be autonomous and a source of proposals: being a banker means optimizing your clients’ financial portfolio. To do this, it is important to know how to analyze your clients’ accounts in order to advise them
- Be rigorous and organized: managing a portfolio of clients can quickly become complicated if your work methodology is not strict and planned
- Be comfortable with numbers: it goes without saying, but managing a financial portfolio means first and foremost managing money
What does a banker earn?
It is important to note that the remuneration of a banker is based on a fixed part and a variable part which will depend on your results over the year.
For the fixed part, the salary obviously depends on factors such as your experience in the field, the geographical area of your company but also its size.
As an estimate, a junior banker can expect to earn a gross monthly salary of 2,400 euros (28,000 euros gross per year). Over the years, a senior banker can earn an average of 75,000 gross per year, or a monthly salary of 6,250 gross per month. It is very common for banks to add a 13th or even 14th month as well as end-of-year bonuses (commercial bonuses, profit-sharing, incentive schemes).
For the variable part, depending on the individual and collective sales made within your agency, you can expect to earn between 5 and 20% of your fixed salary.
Special Finance FAQ’s
Find the answers to the questions commonly asked by our future students:
- What do we study in Finance?
- Which jobs to do in Finance?
- How to get a scholarship to study in Finance?
- What is the difference between a Bachelor’s degree and a Licence in Finance?