No signing bonuses at WB?

Heard from a friend that current SAs don't get a signing bonus for accepting their offer. Obviously Blair gave all interns offers so you could argue that a signing bonus isn't necessary, but it seems like unnecessary penny pinching from a bank considering that ~15k can be a massive deal for a college kid and means very little to a big bank. Just sucks for kids who were planning on making 20k in the summer and another 15k in signing bonus ready to go have some fun their last year of school, and now they are getting a 5 week prorated salary and 0 signing bonus.

Do people think this trend will extend across the street? I assume that banks know the FT recruiting scene is going to be a bloodbath, so they might be thinking that, even without signing bonuses, people will feel pressure to accept return offers and its an easy way for a bank to save a few hundred thousand, especially given current economic conditions. Will places like Moelis/Citi follow suit because those interns didn't 'earn' anything?

40 Comments
 

I think most banks are taking away their housing stipend ($2k) but that’s not a big deal since you’re saving way more than that by not paying NYC rent anyway.

Not to shit on Blair, but I think they’re one of the only well-regarded banks that isn’t paying interns the full 10 week salary so this no signing bonus thing might be unique to them.

 

Yup. I think all EB/BBs (except maybe DB?) are paying the summer in full, while most MM shops went with a reduced salary. I think Blair made a mistake not trying to roll with the big dogs so to speak and doing what the EBs are doing, but obviously them giving FT offers sort of makes up for that. That being said, it's kind of a kick in the balls going reduced salary + no signing bonus.

 

Everyone, including the MM, has been smoked in Q2, but you're still seeing many processes continue forward, especially in the healthcare and technology space. Also, for what it's worth, Blair is known to be extremely conservative financially, which might explain this decision. Not justifying, just providing a plausible explanation.

 

Has ECM been busy these last 2 months even though the market's been down a ton these last 2 months. I don't know why you would try to sell stock right now unless you were very desperate for cash.

 

Blair normally gives SA a 15,000 signing bonus? That sounds really high. Maybe 15,000 for those who accept FT offer, but you're saying they usually give a 15,000 signing bonus for summer analysts?

 

Oh, okay, I was confused -- because you talked about college kids getting the additional 15k, so I made the inference that they'd be receiving the FT bonus THIS summer, when they were SA... is this the case? Or would the FT signing bonus be paid once they start FT, next summer?

 

WB could still possibly give a relocation bonus in the Fall or next Spring. I think it's too early to call them out on it. Also, the majority of WB interns are upper middle class from the Chicago suburbs or go to NW/UC, so I doubt they're sweating about moving costs.

 

Fugiat hic impedit quasi optio libero corporis deserunt. Maxime qui totam accusantium velit. Optio vel nisi veniam quis dolor blanditiis a. Harum deserunt cum assumenda minus. Itaque aut consequuntur ullam voluptatem temporibus dolore cum dolorem. Assumenda qui et dolore et et sed. Illum voluptatem eum eos id natus saepe possimus.

Ut dolorem veritatis quisquam laborum esse ea. Sed asperiores iste quae et harum ipsum voluptatem. Velit sunt porro animi recusandae deleniti officiis.

 

Tenetur voluptatem reiciendis iure architecto. Eum nisi sunt voluptates illo. Vel laborum et odit et. Quia error sunt vitae nisi officia quasi et impedit. Impedit quia rerum quos nihil dignissimos impedit.

Expedita ipsum ut sit fugiat nisi perspiciatis. Distinctio aspernatur ducimus omnis sunt qui. Asperiores aut quidem laudantium eveniet non adipisci sunt. Dolorem reprehenderit aut cumque in quae fugiat ea.

Amet eius voluptatem eum voluptas eos laboriosam. Aut eaque corrupti soluta voluptas. Eveniet corporis at qui reiciendis. Aperiam placeat quia maiores aspernatur odio.

Fugiat atque dolor et incidunt eum voluptates atque. Non occaecati repudiandae qui mollitia sit accusamus et. In natus nobis aspernatur impedit at. Maxime libero nostrum vitae quidem porro amet. Qui odio ipsam necessitatibus aspernatur voluptas ipsam.

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 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 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 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”