Crafting a Powerful Banking Resume: The Essential Guide to Format & Examples
The financial services industry is a varied and interesting global industry with exciting opportunities for the right candidate. Whether you want to work as an investment banker or a bank teller, a banking resume that sets you apart from the other job applicants is essential.
Catherine Cruz Investment Analyst 854-776-332 catherinecruz@gmail.com Bay City, MI linkedin.com/in/catherinecruz
Professional Summary
Enthusiastic Personal Banker with experience assisting customers with setting up new services. Proficiently assists corporate clients with all their banking needs. Processes transactions accurately in customer accounts, including checking savings and investment funds.
Work experience
Citigroup Inc Investment Analyst April 2018-Date
Exceeded bank sales goals by promoting bank products and services to every caller.
Protected personnel and assets by following company rules and regulations while monitoring customer behaviors.
Ordered checks and issued stop-payment orders by processing account transactions for customers.
Anchor Bank Limited Bank teller June 2016-March 2018
Improved customer satisfaction rates by 12% by providing pleasant service when welcoming and signing in guests.
Avoided breaches of confidentiality and misuse of information by adhering to the company's financial data and customer information guidelines.
Working extra hours during holidays and peak periods to alleviate staff shortages.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Finance University of Michigan May 2016
Skills
Account Management
Creative Problem Solving
Multi-Task Management
Exceptional customer service
Debt and credit management
Investment Management
Time management
Activities
Received an award for the best bank teller at Anchor Bank Limited in 2017.
The banking industry is competitive, but if you are serious about landing your career, you need a professional resume that will land you your dream job.
Technology has brought about many changes in the banking industry, with a lot of money transactions happening online. However, we cannot disregard the importance of bankers at financial institutions and their role in helping us navigate and understand the business and finance world. They help individuals and businesses make decisions on investments, savings, and loans by giving them financial advice on what works for them.
This guide will help you create a resume that will work for you, while also giving you some useful resume writing tips that will allow you to stand out and beat the other candidates for that banking job.
Check out other expert resume guides for bank job, right here👇
The financial services industry covers a huge scope which means there are many different opportunities for various occupations. If you want to get a job in this industry, you need to personalize each resume to the job you want. Assuming you want an accountant position, you cannot use your investment analyst resume because you will miss out on the position.
You can personalize your banker resume in the following ways:
Choosing a resume format that showcases your expertise in the best way.
Checking the job description and adding keywords and action verbs such as spearheaded, formulated, and determined to help your resume beat the applicant tracking systems.
Adding a resume summary that captures your top achievements to interest the hiring manager in reading your resume.
The layout of the Banking Resume
The layout is the first thing the hiring manager will notice, so you need to use one that is easy to read and understand. The best layout for your banker resume is reverse chronological order. It allows you to showcase your relevant experience and expertise and is also easy to scan on ATS systems, making it a favorite for many hiring managers.
The structure of the Banking Resume
If you don't have much experience in the banking and finance industry, you can consider the functional resume format or the combination format.
The functional resume format focuses on your unique abilities and is perfect if you don't have experience. Recent graduates or people changing careers can consider this format.
The combination resume format combines the best features of the reverse-chronological and functional resume. This format focuses on your experience and abilities and works well for candidates with some experience.
The structure of your banking resume should have the following sections:
The header section
Resume summary/resume objective
Work experience
Education section
Skill section
An additional section (volunteer work, awards/honors, interests, languages, and certifications)
Start with the Header on a Banking Resume
The header section is the first section of your banking resume, and contains your full name, job title, contact information, and a link to your career blog or Linkedin profile.
A good Banking Resume Sample header
Here is an example
CORRECT
Stephen Brown
Investment Analyst
549-678-321
stephenbrown@gmail.com
Savannah, GA
linkedin.com/in/stephenbrown
A bad Banking Resume Sample header
Here is an example
INCORRECT
Stephen Brown
Investment Analyst
549-678-321
stephenbrown@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/stephenbrown
2704 Austin Avenue
House number 34
Savannah, GA
Date of birth 02/04/1996
Your header section should only have the relevant information. You don't need to add too much personal information.
Is a photo required in the Bankers Resume?
A photo on your banking resume is unnecessary because most U.S companies do not consider applicants who have a photo on their resume. If a potential employer requires a photo, ensure it is professional.
Choosing your Banking Title
The title on your resume always has to to be tailored for the job you are applying. If you use one title for multiple banking jobs, you will miss out on some amazing opportunities.
Professional summary for a Banking Resume
The professional summary is an introductory paragraph that summarizes your professional achievements and banking experiences.
If this section of your resume does not capture the hiring manager's attention, they will probably not read the rest of your resume.
Example of professional summary for a Banking Resume
CORRECT EXAMPLE
Certified Financial Analyst with over eight years of experience working with business clients to help them grow profitability. Dedicated to providing customer service and catering to the customers financial needs increasing sales by 20%. Knowledgeable about banking regulations, market trends, regulatory requirements, and security protocols.
INCORRECT EXAMPLE
High-performing investment banker with experience in delivering exemplary service. Consistently exceeded company goals and expectations.
A resume objective or career objective is an excellent way to introduce your resume if you don't have experience. If you are starting out as a banker, an objective gives you the chance to talk about your career goals and express your passion for the job. It is also important to align these goals with the requirements of the potential employer.
Work Experience in the Banking Resume
You will notice that most if not all the banking resume samples you have reviewed have a work experience section. This is because it is essential as it allows you to show the recruiting manager what you can do based on your accomplishments in your previous positions. You can check out our resume examples to help you with your banking resume.
Describe your professional experiences on your Banking Resume
The main goal is to create a banking resume that gets you the new job.
The best way to do this is to capture the hiring manager's attention by adding relevant banking experience to your resume because they tend to spend more time in this section. If you have any other professional experience that helped you gain some useful transferable skills, you may also add it to your resume.
You will list all your previous workplaces, positions, and years spent at each workplace.
If you want to stand out, don't stop at listing the workplaces. For each position you have added, add three to five duties and achievements using bullet points, then quantify them using facts and figures. This helps to show the hiring manager the value you will bring to the company.
Examples of professional experiences for a Junior Banker
Here is an example
Personal Banker
Alliance Bank Limited
January 2015-December 2018
Increased the company’s positive reputation and maintained a loyal customer base, by working tirelessly to resolve customers' problems to their satisfaction.
Prepared legal correspondence and an interoffice memorandum for distribution at the direction of the company's attorneys.
Resolved any arising problems and provided support to bank tellers to initiate operational improvements, resulting in A-1 customer/client service.
Examples of work experience for Senior Banker
Here is an example
Investment Analyst
Bank of America
May 2018-June 2020
Trained a team of ten investment bankers to handle high-level bank functions such as risk management.
Solved all customer issues in the investment banking department, increasing our customer base by 15%.
Offered advice to clients on their loan applications and reviewed their income and financial statements.
Education on a Banking Resume
The education section on your banking resume is essential and can easily help you land your dream job. Luckily, many different degrees can qualify you to get a banking job. All your educational qualifications will go under this section, whether it's a high school diploma, bachelor's degree, or master's degree.
Should you start with education or work experience for a Banking Resume?
Your resume format determines whether you start with education or experience. If you have some years of experience and choose the reverse-chronological format, you'll start with experience. If you don't have much experience and choose the functional resume format, you'll start with your educational qualifications.
How to properly list your education in a Banking Resume?
The best way to list your qualifications in this section is to start with the degree type, the school's name, and the year of graduation.
Example of the education section of a Banking Resume
Here is an example
B.A in Financial Engineering
Ferris State University
2018
Skills to put in the Banking Resume
If you want to get a banking position, you need a specific skill set to perform your duties efficiently. Some of these relevant skills are usually in the job description, which is why you should always check it and add some of the required banking skills to your resume. This increases your chances of beating the ATS systems and landing an interview.
What are the main skills sought for in a Banking Resume?
Hard skills
Credit and risk analysis
Credit and Collections
Mortgages and Loans
Account management
Mutual funds understanding
Investment management
Cash handling
Risk assessment
Soft skills
Analytical skills
Excellent customer service
Excellent communication
Multitasking
Critical thinking
Time management
Conflict resolution
Organizational skills
What skills for a Junior Banking Resume?
Customer Needs Assessment
Business operations
File/records maintenance
Territory Sales Experience
Making insurance decisions
Reports generation and analysis
Negotiation skills
Cash handling
What skills for a qualified Senior Banker?
Team management
Expense Control
Contract auditing
Developing financial plans
Stock market expertise
Domestic and International Experience
Relationship development
Contract negotiation/review/drafting
Write the Ideal Resume Hook for a Banking Resume
A resume hook helps set you apart from everyone else. It is a quote, personal description, testimonial, or achievement used to describe any additional accomplishments that help your banking resume stand out.
Example of a tagline for a Junior Banker Resume
Here is an example
Focused Financial Advisor with a background providing various financial services, including retirement planning and insurance decision-making. Keen understanding of business growth strategies and effective planning methodologies.
Sample tagline for a senior-level Banking Resume
Here is an example
Award-winning relationship banker with over ten years' experience in Investment banking. Conscientious and inspiring leader with a proven track record of determining business needs, developing cost-saving solutions, increasing sales, and satisfying customers.
Additional Headings for your Banking Resume
Your investment banking resume would be incomplete without an additional section. This section helps you stand out and beat the competition by showing the hiring manager what other unique qualifications you have. You can check out our resume templates to help you incorporate this section into your CV and create a job-winning banking resume.
Some of the additional sections you can add under this section include:
Computer skills and certifications on a Banking Resume
Your computer skills and certifications should have their section to ensure the recruiting manager does not miss them. Some of the certifications that will look good on your banking resume include:
Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA)
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Interests on a Banking Resume
The interests on your banker resume should fit the profile of the position you want. Interests that involve social interaction look good on your banking resume and show the recruiting manager more of who you are.
Languages on a Banking Resume
Every bilingual candidate stands out to the recruiting manager, so you don't want them to miss your language abilities. You should list them using the official language reference as follows:
IELTS for English (with a score of 30 points and higher)
SIELE for Spanish
DELF for French (with a score of 70% and higher)
Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect Banking Resume
Here is a breakdown of the main takeaways from this article:
Your banking resume should have the right format to ensure that your expertise is showcased in the right way.
Let your resume summary/objective capture the hiring manager's attention to ensure they read the rest of your resume.
Write a one-page banking resume because most hiring managers tend to toss resumes that are longer than a page.
Remember to include an additional section that shows your potential employer who you are and what other interests you have.
Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your Banking Resume
A cover letter allows you to express your passion for the banking position you are applying for and mention some of your top achievements. It helps your application stand out, so you should always accompany your resume with one.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Banking Resume
How do I write a bank resume?
Your banking resume should have all the necessary sections, including the header section, resume summary/objective, relevant experience, educational qualifications, skill section, and an additional section (volunteer work, interests, languages, certifications, awards, and honors.)
How can I write my banker skills on my resume?
You will list them using bullet points as we see in every banking resume sample to make it easy for the recruiting manager to see them. Listing them also makes it easy to scan on ATS systems. For example, if you are applying for an investment banking position, you need to include keywords from the job description in your investment banking resume, to make sure you get past the ATS system.
What is a good objective for a banking resume?
A good objective focuses on showing your potential employer the value you will bring to the company instead of what you will gain from it. If you mention your career goals, ensure you talk about how they align with the company goals. If you show your passion and enthusiasm for the role, you’re more likely to get an interview.
How do you write a personal banker resume?
Start with a header, then introduce your resume with a captivating resume summary/objective.
When listing your experience, focus on your achievements and use figures to quantify them.
Remember to add your educational qualifications and the unique abilities that make you the best candidate.
Lastly, include an additional section with any other additional qualifications.
CORRECT
INCORRECT
