Nomura vs Wells Fargo

I currently am deciding between these two firms for an investment banking summer analyst role.

Nomura

Pros: Dank sushi bar (no more jokes about this please lol), guaranteed placement in NYC office, good work-life balance compared to the rest of the street

Cons: Would have to lateral for better exits 

Wells Fargo

Pros: Great culture from what I hear, good work life balance

Cons: Possibility of being placed in Charlotte (not as big a deal to me), would have to lateral for better exits

I don't have too much more info, but would love to get insights on how others would think about these two banks. Especially want to hear more about deal flow, which groups are strongest, etc.

15 Comments
 

Wells is kind of like the Nomura of the US. Big bank, decent but not that great, yet still better than Nomura, unless you end up in North Carolina doing asset-based lending “IB”

 

Thanks for the response! Do you think the risk of placement in a "IB-adjacent" group in Charlotte worth the marginally better reputation of Wells? For context, I have good contacts at Wells but I don't want to get burned by group placement.

 

You will have a similar experience at both banks. Nomura tends to better with debt financing while Wells is better at M&A. I would definitely lean Wells because of reputation / better exits.

 

I don't know too much about how the WF group placement works, but do you think being from a top target school would help in getting a good group at Wells?

 

Would go with WF. Charlotte is actually nice if you end up there and you can move to NY if you get into a good group. Also heard culture is just better in general.

 

Do you think that was just one-off due to a record year during covid or is that consistent? Wells also pays insanely high for SA because of the hourly (instead of prorated).

 

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