Summer internship

Did an internship last summer at a boutique bank. I was a sophomore, so it was even more difficult for me to get interviews, but since (i assume) you are a junior, you should have an easier time.

Anyway, as far as the smaller banks go, they do not start recruiting for interns until March or so. Essentially, these banks do not have formal programs, and hire by need. They do not know how many they will need until closer to the summer, so they start interviews in late February/early March.

As far as the application goes, keep in mind that since it is a small firm, it is much more likely that someone will take a look at your resume, and not just file it somewhere. Because of this, you can really improve your chances by following up with the main HR contact every 2-3 weeks. This strategy worked well for me with the smaller banks, because when it came time to select people for interviews, I had been in touch with them enough that they remembered my name, and I automatically got invited.

I wouldn't take the mass application approach, but would rather focus on a list of 10-15 firms that really interest you, and think you have a good shot at. If you are persistent enough with these firms, and have a decent resume, you should be able to land a few interviews.