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‘Banking’ is one of the largest and best-known industries of the developed world, but today’s financial services environment has changed beyond recognition from what it once was; accordingly, today’s bankers owe little to the age of the 1940’s Capt.

Mainwaring-type bank managers! In an industry that drives global social and economic change, a graduate career in banking offers a wealth of opportunity. Modern banking is about highly trained staff delivering top quality service to customers, whatever their financial needs. Graduate careers in banking are high-pressure and high-flying and can be in some of the largest and most successful institutions in the world. This requires high levels of technical expertise and management skill. Read on to discover what a graduate career in banking can offer you.

Many of the services provided by banks are now also offered by other financial institutions such as building societies, insurance companies and even supermarkets. It's very difficult now to draw a line around any sector in the financial services industry and list the services typical organisations in that sector will provide, generally speaking though, the main areas are:

Commercial banks and building societies - dealing with transmission of money, loans, mortgages, pensions, insurance, foreign currency, trade finance, stocks and shares … and a wide range of other investment and lending services

Supermarkets, airlines, large motor car companies etc . - retail financial products such as mortgages, pensions, tax efficient savings accounts, ordinary savings and current accounts

Investment banks - dealing with corporate finance and engineering such as mergers, acquisitions and take-overs; capital market activity such as bonds and equities (shares); stock market analysis; fund and portfolio management, derivatives including foreign exchange hedging Insurance companies

Insurers and Re-insurers - providing financial protection against risk for the cost of a premium

Independent financial advisers - helping people plan for their financial future

Broking firms - buying and selling stocks and shares

Unit and investment trust companies - financial organisations concerned with earning money for their investors through techniques such as portfolio management