Hearing Santander Doesn’t Care about Finra Licenses Anymore…

Someone told me Santander doesn’t even care if you’re registered or not anymore. Heard all analysts in LATAM and US DCM are a year into the job without the 63 or 79…can someone confirm this is true?

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I think anyone working in IB that's located in the US needs to get FINRA licenses. I know Santander has teams working on LATAM deals but physically located in the NyC. If post is true, this is a very weird situation 

 
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Can't this be a major legal issue? I understand allowing new analysts to work somewhat as they are studying for their tests for the first few months on the job...  allowing this over a year on the desk is a huge red flag. At my firm, there have been analysts who couldn't pass their FINRAs but they were all either moved to backend positions or let go. I wonder why these guys are allowed to stay and work??? Santander should be able to get plenty of high quality candidates that can pass licensing esp. for LATAM and DCM positions...

 

I guess it varies by bank, I think technically analysts aren't necessarily required if they aren't pitching the materials themselves but I feel like it's basically a requirement at most big banks who face a lot of scrutiny especially for capital market teams like DCM even if its LATAM. I have IB friends at Santander who I know for a fact needed to take their licensing exams and were sponsored by the firm. Whatever is going on at these specific teams seems a little fishy because I assumed it is a firm wide policy. 

 

Not illegal as long as there is someone on the deal team who is FINRA licensed. Analysts don't pitch/advise - they execute the instructions from a licensed advisor (S79).

 

That is technically correct but I will say - I've never seen analysts call on companies, design their own pitch books or lead calls. 99% are operating in a support function, not an advisory function.

You get the jist of what I'm trying to say.

 

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