Commercial Banking First-Year Analyst Pay/Exits

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about first-year pay and exits for commercial banking analysts:

First-Year Pay for Commercial Banking Analysts:

• Wells Fargo: Summer interns in commercial banking at Wells Fargo in NYC are paid $43/hr, which is indeed a strong rate.
• General Pay: While specific first-year analyst pay isn't detailed in the provided context, it's reasonable to expect a competitive salary, potentially with a slight bump from the intern rate.

Exits to Investment Banking (IBD) or Private Equity (PE):

• Career Transitions: It's noted that some analysts in commercial banking do transition to investment banking or other finance roles. For instance, some analysts who couldn't initially secure IB roles might start in commercial banking and then jump to IB when opportunities arise.
• Commitment Issues: There are mentions of junior bankers quitting at the analyst level, often due to not getting their desired roles out of undergrad and then moving to their target industry when a role becomes available.

Additional Insights:

• Corporate vs. Commercial Banking: Analysts on the corporate side are generally given more responsibility, challenged more, and paid more compared to those on the commercial side. This could influence the decision to transition to other finance roles.
• Work-Life Balance: Commercial banking is often considered for its better compensation/work-life balance compared to elite finance jobs like IB, PE, HF, ER, and MBB consulting.

For more detailed discussions and personal experiences, you might want to explore specific threads on Wall Street Oasis or similar forums.

Sources: Q&A:Commercial Banking SVP Ask Me Anything, Q&A - 1st year Corporate Banking Analyst, EB Comparisons, Here's why Investment banking is the best career path ?, Advice for New Analysts Seeking PE Exits