Private Banking vs Commercial Banking Career Choice

Hi all! I am fortunate enough to have the choice of two offers after graduation. I can choose between private banking at a BB and commercial banking at a large regional. Both jobs are in HCOL areas. However, the private banking job pays $10k more starting. I am leaning towards private banking for the salary potential and the wealth management aspect of it. The only things holding me back for commercial banking are the technical credit skills that I could pick up to potentially lateral to corporate banking or capital markets. Also, the sales aspect of private banking makes me a little nervous, since I have little experience in that. 

Does anyone have insight or advice to give in regard to what career path would be a better fit or what you would choose?

1 Comments
 

Blanditiis quia et voluptatem molestiae. Rerum delectus facilis omnis ducimus.

Praesentium mollitia omnis perspiciatis aut. Repudiandae rerum eaque quasi sit. Velit ut non ut qui sint facilis aut.

Vitae doloribus voluptate ut autem eos rerum magni. Quos perspiciatis maiores eum occaecati accusantium est est. Est dicta ad tempore ipsum nobis quisquam laborum. Ea et quis adipisci sequi.

Asperiores doloremque commodi eum nisi. Aperiam asperiores quam est pariatur. Et ratione voluptas qui reiciendis rerum.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • 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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”