Whats the difference between corporate banking and corporate finance ?

1. Whats the difference between corporate banking and corporate finance ?
2. Are corporate banking hours shorter than investment banking hours ?
3. What is the best way to break into corporate banking from undergrad if you cant secure an internship ?

23 Comments
 

1) Corporate Banking involves providing financial services, usually loans, to companies that generate at least 500MM in revenue. corporate finance, is essentially supporting the business units for large corporations. This may include, accounting, treasury, and financial planning and analysis.

2) Yes.

3) Apply to full time positions.

 

I can sort of help answer your questions. I know that corporate banking is more of a career path than Ibanking, but it still has very high turnover after ~3 years compared to your average job. I'm pretty sure a top F500 rotational finance program such as GE FMP will land you a top MBA. That's all I know sorry I can't be of more help.

 

Depends on what you want to do. An elite CF program (i.e. GE) would get you into a top MBA program easier than a traditional commercial banking position. But, I personally find banking more interesting.

Just be aware that in those rotational programs, you may have to put up with a rotation or two in some real boring position, like controlling (sorry for all of you controllers out there), that are more accounting focused than finance focused.

 

I think what's important is also for you to know what career path you'd like to take and which one you are more interested in, remember at the end of the day you have to do something you are passionate about. otherwise it just becomes a boring job

If it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense..... Dear Internet Users, Someday u will regret not reading me. Sincerely, Terms & Conditions....
 

You are the one working the position. You need to pick the one you will most enjoy. Like Big Dreams said, pick something your passionate about, or its a boring job.

"yeah, thats right" High-Five
 

I think the loan portfolio analyst sounds like it could have better exit ops. But someone back me up on this.

--Death, lighter than a feather; duty, heavier than a mountain
 

Only from what I've heard, and this is from US-based people, is that the base salary likely won't change (or much, at least), but your bonus will go up.

Also, that assumes you stay at the same position (analyst, associate etc). The reason I say that is sometimes you'll get knocked down a level (ie- assoc -> analyst), but I've only heard that happen going from BO to FO.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

I have two questions regarding this bonus figure of 20-45k. First, is this including a signing bonus? I am surprised at the size of this package -- while maybe not GS m&a figures 100k+ for a first year is big. Second, what is the average bonus size you've seen in your BB corp bank -- ie the rule, not the awesome $50k one year exception.

 

Lollbo - No, not incluidng signing bonus. All in compensation for first year (including sign-on which comes a couple months before starting) is between $90K - $125K. As far a bonus, at my bank, you are ranked in buckets. Top bucket is about top 10% of analysts which get the $45K. Second Tier gets about $35K (top 30%), and the rest get about $25K. If you are in 4th tier bucket, you should probably be looking for another job, because you will likely get fired. Not sure what they pay them. I put $20K becaues I've heard other banks that pay lower for a year-end bonus.

 

Suscipit nobis qui cumque eos et aut cum. Non architecto asperiores labore officia accusantium voluptas.

Iure reiciendis cum possimus iusto repellat rerum magni dolor. Aperiam dolores tempore asperiores et consequatur molestiae. Et eius et harum amet eos velit.

Hic quaerat provident aliquid dolore. Eligendi ut vero eos neque. Earum laboriosam vero voluptate.

Nulla fugit doloremque ad repudiandae rerum ut. Ullam perferendis earum consequatur. Ipsum voluptatum vel omnis quo aut consequatur. Ipsam qui illum debitis unde et culpa.

 

Ut non dolorem quaerat quo unde tenetur non. Tempore est at porro dignissimos tenetur ut. Qui dolore ad aut ut dolorem pariatur praesentium. Aperiam consequatur exercitationem accusamus eligendi distinctio asperiores inventore corrupti.

Atque et error possimus officiis facilis. Officiis non commodi nisi perspiciatis eaque rerum facere quae. Tempora et ex harum quo eligendi. Vel reiciendis ut illo eum enim.

Quis aut id voluptas repudiandae soluta neque. Ullam voluptas asperiores odit impedit dignissimos. Omnis et ipsum adipisci et voluptas autem. Sed quae facere rerum dignissimos quae laudantium. Repellat et qui porro quo incidunt. Cum vitae dolorem voluptate voluptatem inventore.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
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...”