Bank manager | Explore careers (2024)

You could take a degree before applying for a management trainee scheme. Most degrees are acceptable, though you may gain relevant skills from subjects like:

• management
• accounting
• economics
• finance
• law
• marketing
• maths

You could get work experience during your degree through:

• taster days or work shadowing opportunities
• banking vacation schemes
• spring or summer internships
• a year in industry placement

Work experience will give you a head start when applying for trainee manager jobs when you graduate.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a course at college that may give you some of the skills and knowledge to apply for trainee bank manager positions.

For example you could do a T Level in Finance.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to T levels
• funding advice
• search for courses

• financial services administrator advanced apprenticeship
• senior financial services customer adviser advanced apprenticeship
• financial services professional higher apprenticeship
• chartered manager degree apprenticeship

If you want to work in commercial or investment banking you could do a Level 7 senior investment and commercial banking professional, higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could apply to join a bank in a customer service job and work your way up.

You'll usually need a least 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.

You could take further training on the job while you study for management qualifications.

Further information

You can find more advice about training and working in banking from the:

• London Institute of Banking and Finance
• Chartered Banker Institute

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• business management skills
• customer service skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• leadership skills
• knowledge of economics and accounting
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of your branch or a number of branches. You could:

• communicate and put into practice, business, marketing and sales plans
• monitor sales targets and budgets, and produce figures and reports
• assess lending risk
• motivate staff to meet targets
• learn about the needs of individual and business customers
• make sure that staff follow rules and procedures
• develop relationships with the local community and businesses
• deal with customer complaints

You could work in an office.

You may need to wear smart business clothes.