wells fargo, USA, RBC, PJ Solomon, keybank
rank em please, which one would you choose if you had offers for 2021 and how would your ranks go, thank you very much :)
leaning towards WF since I feel most secure with it.
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +262 | Why UBS Is the Worst Place to Start Your IB Career | 40 | 1d |
| +219 | UBS 2nd Year Analyst Q&A (2026) | 41 | 15h |
| +98 | What's your craziest "hardo" story? | 16 | 1d |
| +52 | Rogo AI | 22 | 18h |
| +52 | Wolf of Wall Street vs. Reality: Anyone else feel scammed by the movies? | 19 | 5h |
| +50 | Suspended for a Year | 21 | 9h |
| +49 | Elite Boutique interview questions | 17 | 1d |
| +37 | UBS IB 26Q2 a Disaster! Advisory Revenue Down 23%, Capital MarketsDown 5% | 8 | 1h |
| +32 | so confused about 28 SA timeline | 31 | 26m |
| +31 | Rate my non-target resume | 15 | 18h |
Career Resources
Are you looking at their respective tech groups?
Yes in all of them, except WF I'm looking at M&A as well
Wells Tech has a great culture but zero deal flow. Interns pitch all summer and aren’t staffed on any deals. It doesn’t get any better for analysts. Not sure how much better WF M&A is but it must be better than Tech.
If you're considering M&A at WF I would throw in RBC M&A as well. From what I've seen, probably the best group at any of the banks you mentioned as far as execution/pitching ratio. RBC tech is historically mediocre but I've heard they are on the upswing as of late (makes sense since the bank is as a whole).
Why does everyone keep brinigng up USA? They're a boutique bank in SF that is doing fine but they are the last resort of banks to go to if you don't get a name brand bnaking job. USA is way at the bottom of your list if you want me to rank. It's not even close.
Yeah that's what I was thinking but they had such an intense process that makes me feel like they're worth a lot more, since I put most of my effort into it
Nah man, USA tries too hard in their interview process so you think this way. You got played. Go with either WF, RBC or PJSC
Aren't you the FT partners guy?
I have reformed my ways, grant. I am trying not to talk about FTP anymore. Please bare with me as I transition away from these talks. Thanks for your patience, young grant.
You're kinda weird my guy
USA recruits in the spring, before most BBs and MMs start their processes
Thanks for that info. That means you can recruit there and get an IB offer at least, and thenshop that offer at the other banks. Please ond't do this. This is a joke!
Would go with PJ Solomon. May not be as well known but would rather be at a place that is respected by those who know it instead of a place that is know by all but respected by none
...? Found the PJ Solomon analyst I guess
My bad forgot WF was epitome of prestige
Also what is the rep/prestige of USA? How do they compare to DBO, Incentrum?
I've pesronaly never heard of USA or Incentrum outside of WSO.
I've heard DBO was a solid shop but doesn't have the name recognition like other banks. Think Petsky Prunier, Canaccord Genuity, Cantor Fitzgerald, TPH, Sagent Advisors, Mesirow Financial, etc.
How is DBO like Cantor in the slightest LOL
Bro what are you talking about? Go wash your face with cold water
I'm sure Morgan Stanley is giving me stuff because you all work at the banks I mentioend and are salty.
TPH definitely not like others lol
I’m not really seeing the comparison here.
DBO is a generalist boutique based in SF, and Incentrum is a merchant bank based in NY. Not sure why you’d compare those two to USA, which is a tech boutique.
Can agree neither is well known outside of the finance world. DBO is small/high quality and has been around for like 5-10 hrs while Cantor is fairly large/not good and has been around for decades. No?
Both seem like high quality boutiques that are too small/new to be considered EBs. Was just curious how exits and the like compare
i think its a fair comparison to bring dbo and inventrum into the mix. both also focus on tech. would say you get more of a generalist experience at both over USA though. DBO is more like west region advisory with a tech bent and incentrum from what ive heard plays in healthcare, life sciences, and tech
I work in the SF tech scene, so I can offer some color here.
USA's name recognition has improved, but I don't think anyone is impressed by the firm. USA strictly works on MM tech deals. They have a good culture, and exit opps are there. Overall a good shop, but the "wow-factor" is nonexistent.
I'd say DBO is much more prestigious (using your word here) than USA. DBO was founded by three reputable senior bankers from MS. Their roster is stacked with brilliant people from top to bottom. They work across industries, products, and transaction sizes. I work at an EB, and we often compete for deals with them.
Incentrum, from what I've heard, is another group of smart cookies. I can't speak too much about them, but I'm guessing they're also ahead of USA in terms of prestige and reputation. They have an investment arm, which is always interesting.
I'd go with RBC or PJS depending on your interests
PJSC is pretty fratty but if you like that, you will love their culture so much. RBC has pretty nice people across the board as well.
RBC NICE
I’m very sorry for you that you’ve been a victim of Richard completely hijacking yet another thread with low-EQ conjectures
To address the question, if you’re not sure what you want and you can finesse a top RBC group in NYC, that might be the best place to start for somebody who’s unsure. I’d pick pretty much anything at RBC over anything at Wells, as (at least when I recruited) Wells could throw you in syndicated loans in Charlotte.
If you somewhat lean toward tech, I’d say USA easily trumps either of those two (not to mention comp will be higher). Obviously if you’re not interested in tech, no point silo’ing yourself at a tech boutique
Heard good things all around about PJSC. Would probably rank equal in my preference list with RBC.
I don’t know too much about Keybanc other than that their healthcare subsidiary, Cain Brothers, is pretty decent in SF. I don’t know the details of your Keybanc offer, but it can be hit or miss. I would personally probably eliminate this one within the context of my own ambitions, but Keybanc and all the rest of your offers are still great offers to have for an internship. RBC/PJSC for general career launchpad, USA for tech career IMO
all trolling aside, I really don't know if you want to just plug USA so much competing against WF or RBC. WF and RBC are BBs (or at least getting there) with solid brand names and the ability to transfer to other getter group if he / she doesn't want tech. USA is a MM firm like others have said that is ultimately more of a boutique. As much as I don't want to bring it up, they are literally in the same boat as FTP if not worse, because at least FTP does well in its niche whereas USA can't even compete against a decent tech bank for good deals.
Sorry, you made me unleash the non-troll part of me because of this silly post.
Are any of the other firms not MM offers? He’s only dealing with MM offers. I responded to all 5 of his banks, there’s no point strangely focusing on USA and random unwarranted comparisons that aren’t relevant to this thread. Also checking their website, they just did a deal in the billions, so definitely equally (if not higher up) in the MM space than these other offers. We are only comparing these 5 firms and they’re all MM
Just adding to this, PJSC is a generalist program between M&A and restructuring whereas RBC would obviously only be M&A if you got placed there. Definitely pros and cons to each, just depends on your personal interests and what you're looking for
RBC or WF over the rest. Then I’d say it depends on what group you like best if you know which you are being placed. Good luck.
helpful! thank you :)
This is pretty cut and dry as far as the "ranking" ridiculousness goes on here...
RBC (significant drop off)
WF (assuming not getting screwed by their placement process and landing in loan syndication in Charlotte under "IBD" look into this. Lots of posts on Well's strange placement process) (an even larger drop off)
USA or PJ Solomon (either you are set on Tech or not, nice generalist program at PJ Solomon though no doubt)
Keybank
You people have to stop with this RBC stuff. They are not top 10 on any product in the US or globally.
IIRC they are top 10 in RE and PUI. Also, are you suggesting WF is?
Do not think RBC is above PJS in the slightest
Perspiciatis accusantium et ipsum et labore sit aut ullam. Asperiores nam quod rem expedita.
Quibusdam est temporibus est ea eligendi et. Nemo quis dolorem quis exercitationem qui assumenda animi omnis. Quaerat inventore quo ipsum rerum explicabo libero sed omnis. Pariatur vel veniam blanditiis.
Nobis autem ipsum autem sed tenetur. Nam veritatis ab qui sed quam cum quaerat. Amet corporis qui totam qui et et ut. Aut odit expedita sequi quaerat corporis. Ut nostrum qui possimus et est vel.
Quia dignissimos voluptatem debitis quo qui voluptates. Nihil velit accusantium possimus praesentium in.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Possimus esse maiores aut asperiores ea velit. Nihil sit sunt delectus cum cumque quia. Modi nostrum facilis aut velit dolore.
Aut saepe excepturi tempore modi maxime. Molestias et labore nemo velit et. Beatae dolore dolorem rem corporis. Qui qui odit explicabo vero. Earum quidem iusto deserunt impedit culpa debitis totam aut. Eum voluptas et dolor et. Sed libero adipisci velit sint deleniti sint mollitia.
Eos impedit incidunt commodi enim quod. Et deleniti possimus architecto iure consectetur est ipsam. Quasi dignissimos quaerat ipsa numquam.
Consequatur sapiente et ut quod quia. Quia qui atque aut optio laboriosam. Tempora impedit consequatur qui omnis dolorem a pariatur. Sed rerum veniam dolore placeat consectetur aperiam sint.
Sunt velit possimus ratione aut ratione. Et saepe vel voluptas quia qui. Qui optio quos nostrum quod et et rerum.