Best Response

Knew a bunch of people working in the group when I was at Wells Fargo last summer, so I can probably speak to this.

The asset-backed finance group is somewhat unique to Wells Fargo, as it combines a standard structured products investment banking function with an asset-backed lending commercial banking function. I'm not sure there are any other major banks that really do this. Anyways, the group consists of 5 main verticals: commercial operating asset finance (COAF), mortgage finance, corporate debt, subscription finance, and consumer finance. All of these verticals are based in Charlotte, although there's also a commercial real estate capital markets vertical (part of the mortgage finance group) based in New York.

The work seems to be very, very light (at least by investment banking standards); analysts work from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (!) on Friday. Associates probably leave an hour earlier. I don't think anybody really shows up for the weekends. Most people work no more than 60 hours a week.

Culture-wise, there are slight differences between the verticals. I personally found the culture of COAF (the smallest group) and consumer finance to be more laid-back, while some of the people in mortgage finance seemed more straight-laced and less friendly to me. That said, none of the verticals really exhibit more clique-y/fratty culture that you might expect from stereotypical investment banking. The people in the group aren't really what I'd call standard investment bankers, but more just regular people who happened to end up in the group, and get home in time for dinner.

All of the verticals are limited in terms of work and exit opportunities. Unfortunately, there aren't really any great exit opps (in the classic sense of private equity, etc.) within any of these verticals, and the most standard path is to stay on as an associate. ABF is just too narrow of a niche to allow for broader exit opps.

 

Quaerat qui aut in et. Ad saepe qui rerum provident odit atque.

Id voluptatem laboriosam omnis consequatur sint voluptates eius. Quidem ipsa nisi sit quasi facilis. Ut et quia sunt possimus dignissimos amet amet deserunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”