Insight on Santander London IB - Culture, Best Groups, etc.

Hey everyone,

I have an interview coming up for Santander's Investment Banking division in London and was hoping to get some insight from those familiar with the firm.

  • How is the culture there compared to other banks?
  • What are the best groups to be in? Any particularly strong teams? (I heard LevFin is good)
  • How does deal flow compare to other firms in London?
  • How has the recent Credit Suisse hiring impacted the firm?

Would really appreciate any insights! Thanks in advance.

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content:

  1. Culture at Santander London IB: While there isn't a direct mention of Santander's culture in London, the general sentiment around European banks, including Santander, suggests that culture can be more traditional compared to American banks. However, this can vary significantly by group. The recent hiring of Credit Suisse bankers might bring some cultural shifts, especially if entire teams are integrated.

  2. Best Groups at Santander London: LevFin (Leveraged Finance) is often highlighted as a strong area for Santander. This aligns with their focus on credit and lending expertise. If you're interested in deal flow and exit opportunities, LevFin could be a solid choice.

  3. Deal Flow: Santander's deal flow in London is likely competitive, especially in credit-related areas like LevFin. However, it may not match the volume of bulge bracket banks. The integration of Credit Suisse teams could enhance their capabilities and deal flow in certain sectors.

  4. Impact of Credit Suisse Hiring: Santander's recent hiring of Credit Suisse bankers, as reported by Bloomberg, includes not just senior bankers but entire teams. This move could significantly bolster their capabilities and reputation in London, depending on how well the integration is managed. It might also create opportunities for collaboration and growth within the firm.

For further details, you can explore the Bloomberg article mentioned here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-2</a>…">Santander hiring dozens more of Credit Suisse bankers.

Sources: Santander hiring dozens more of Credit Suisse bankers as per Bloomberg, Best groups in Credit Suisse London?, IB in Los Angeles - banks, groups, culture?, What are the best Investment Banks in Paris? I know London is the mecca of IB's, but I'm interested in living in Paris., 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Est quisquam sed asperiores voluptatum et dolorem. Accusantium et omnis necessitatibus qui animi ratione fuga. Expedita enim sapiente ut adipisci dolorem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”