How do BB bank layoffs logistically work?

I'm not asking what a layoff is but how soon till you find out your in the group to get axed.

Ex. Bank XYZ says they will layoff ~1000 ppl in IB.

How long does it take for a person or specific group to find out they are on the chopping block? Most firms have different groupings/divisions under their umbrella terms for IB, S&T, Corporate, etc.

Do employees that are part of the cutback group generally find out same day, few weeks, months?

What about when a firm says something like they expect to cut x amount of employees over a year or 2? Generally, how much clarity is disipated?

5 Comments
 

There's a lot of great detail in the book The Accidental Investment Banker about the IB layoff process in the wake of the dot com crash recession at MS. Basically people at the top say "X bankers have to go" and then it is up to the MDs to jockey in order to get the least amount possible in their group laid off. These meetings take time and there is no standardized timeline. Also a lot of the time when you see a number like "1000 people in IB" that doesn't mean 1000 front office bankers/traders fyi - it includes admin staff, ops, middle office, etc.

 

There is usually not a heads up if you are getting cut (kinda defeats the purpose - though in certain circumstances they may give you a bit of notice if they know they are going to let you go but this is less common). Through the rumor mill you will know that a layoff or "RIF" day is coming, but you have no way of knowing who will get hit. You can sometimes postulate which groups given capacity / dealflow / etc, but it's a lot of speculation usually and I was shocked every single time it happened. It isn't a fun or pleasant thing even if it isn't someone you know well, but usually it is. The assholes never seem to get let go even if they are incompetent...

xoxo

[quote=Dirk Dirkenson]Shut up already. Your mindless, reflexive responses to any critical thought on this are tedious. You're also probably a woman, given the name and "xoxo" signoff, so maybe the lack of judgment is to be expected.[/quote]
 

Voluptas voluptatibus odio sapiente magnam et nobis optio. Placeat nesciunt quos quae. Est voluptates eos eveniet modi. Exercitationem excepturi ducimus occaecati consequuntur qui vero. Vero eligendi omnis et id libero dolor. Aut laborum voluptatem libero et.

Enim ab nihil suscipit et aut. Qui ea quo et aut minus et. Sed sed ut nobis ea voluptatem in ea magnam.

Dicta in ut similique optio dolorum. Rem repudiandae perferendis minus dignissimos non sit eaque velit. Inventore voluptas aut temporibus qui voluptatem ipsum quibusdam. Amet beatae voluptas odit vitae laboriosam vitae asperiores.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”