RBS vs UBS IBD

This is for us only, got an offer from one of them and prob will get the other offer soon.

Would you guys take RBS or UBS for investment banking? I know both have suffered but please only serious responses only and no trolls. I know rbs is better for debt and ubs for M&A, but what about other groups? Is UBS healthcare still bad? How is RBS for M&A?

Which bank will recover faster?

Please no trolls.

12 Comments
 

Depends on the team. As you've said, if one is into DCM it's better to pick RBS (although UBS is furiously rebuilding its own DCM team right now). But for ECM and M&A, UBS is much stronger of the two.

__________ Just my 2c.
 

In my honest opinion, I would go for RBS IBD. Great people, great culture (note that they are former ABN Amro employees). People there are GENUINELY nice and absolutely committed to mentoring you throughout your analyst program. There is a lot of speculation around RBS bonus. Many of them are simply not true. They have been paying out bonuses and they will pay you bonuses going forward. I know for sure that they paid out $40,000 (mid-bucket bonus) to their first year analysts.

Besides, you can do your secondment during your second or third year as an analyst in one of their international offices (i.e. London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Paris and etc.).

RBS has been selling of its retail branches almost willingly because they want to focus on the GBM unit. They are practically pouring all their resources into Global Markets and Global Banking units to retain their talents. This is where they are better at and you will notice that you are treated well...simply because you are in the most prized division of RBS.

You will get a sense that RBS IBD is an up and coming team. I am personally aware that RBS has poached away many investment bankers from UBS. UBS IBD is mature and one can even say that it's facing a huge set back right now. Go to RBS, you will not regret.

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