How can I tell if a bank is actually legitimate?

So I have a list of 200 banks or so that I am going through. How can I tell if these banks are legitimate. I am visiting each of their websites 1 by 1, so far I have maybe only 9 or so companies that I marked as potential work places from what I read of their services and of their senior members. fyi..I eliminate pure valuation/ m&a/ pwm/ restructuring...

Obviously their are the top 50 banks or so that every one knows. But is there a way to tell if a bank is reputable by any other means? I heard one thing you can do is see if the bank has a broker dealer license?? please correct me if I'm wrong, I may or may not be talking out of my ass (and how can I check if they do have a broker dealer license? ask them over the phone or in an interview?)

This list of 200 would be gold if I was trying to break into banking, but what I am trying to do now is move up from where I already SAed.. which i hear is just a bit reputable

4 Comments
 

bumpp Thanks, I have been doing that but some banks have people new to banking without previous experience. Any other way? broker dealer license?

 
Best Response
akptechbumpp Thanks, I have been doing that but some banks have people new to banking without previous experience. Any other way? broker dealer license?

Being registered as a broker dealer is in no way going to determine the quality of a firm. Being a broker dealer basically just means that a firm effects securities transactions for itself or its clients, and isn't a bank, savings institution, or trust (among other limiting criteria). Just because an institution has this registration, doesn't mean in any way that it is a reputable shop... the registration process doesn't reflect the quality of their business, but rather is a way for FINRA to provide oversight over their business from a regulatory standpoint, and more importantly for FINRA to make some money dollars for the privilege of registration (gotta pay a fee).

 

Nihil consequatur tempora voluptatem error omnis asperiores autem. Consectetur cumque voluptatem soluta optio ea itaque. Nemo accusamus laudantium corrupti asperiores veniam et.

Cupiditate quidem qui ab tempore nihil. Vero velit ea dicta est excepturi.

Fugit aut harum perferendis aut. Consequatur animi et voluptatem aut. Quia tempora quas enim enim corporis suscipit sint. Eius quia magnam totam ut aut accusamus maxime sequi. Vitae et ab unde commodi dolorum.

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 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 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 No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”