Requirements for Beginning a Banking Career
Many professionals begin their banking careers on the ground floor. More than two thirds of today's banking jobs are held by tellers and customer service clerks that work with the general public. Basic requirements for beginning a banking career include a broad knowledge of communication skills, mathematics, and banking services. Applicants will have to hold a high school diploma, and some financial institutions are looking for applicants with finance or business administration degrees for bank management or upper-level customer service roles.
Tellers and clerks need strong interpersonal communication skills for their jobs. They may be required to have formal training in computers and traditional spreadsheet or word processing software. Many banks operate their own teller-training programs for qualified candidates.
With post-secondary training at the associates or bachelor degree levels, career professionals may assume senior bank teller or managerial positions. For career positions in loan counseling, lending, or financial service sales, applicants should have at least a bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, economics, or marketing.
Banking Career Certifications Can Help
Depending on the banking institution and state, many loan officers may face ongoing requirements in earning and maintaining a Certified Mortgage Banker certification. For more senior banking positions, professionals can take classes in data processing, budget management, financial analysis, human resource management, international finance, and credit.
Loan officers, trust officers, or personal finance advisors, may need to continue their formal education in pursuing an MBA degree with concentrations in securities policies and laws, financial forecasting and trending.
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