Overview of career opportunities at banks. This category includes banks with subsidiaries that operate in the securities industry.
A merchant bank combines both lending and business advisory services for the business clients that it serves. It thus operates as a hybrid between a traditional bank or investment banking firm and a consulting firm.
Banco Popular is headquartered in Puerto Rico and has branches in 6 states with large Hispanic populations. It is among the top 40 U.S. bank holding companies in assets. Banco Popular also is a major player in SBA (Small Business Administration) lending.
Bank of America is a banking industry leader, and also a major presence on Wall Street since its acquisition of Merrill Lynch in September 2008.
Bank of New York Mellon is a leading asset management, wealth management and securities services company. It is a major provider of various back office services to other financial firms, especially mutual funds.
Barclays is a leading global bank, based in the UK and with over 300 years of history. It significantly increased its footprint in the North American securities business with a bargain priced acquisition of several core lines of business from bankrupt Lehman Brothers.
BB&T, the Branch Banking and Trust Company, is a leading regional bank based in Winston-Salem, NC. Through an aggressive acquisition campaign launched in 1989, BB&T has grown from a small local institution to the 14th largest financial holding company in the U.S. (at one point it was 9th). BB&T has remained strongly profitable through the credit crisis of 2007-08.
Citigroup is a banking giant and a leader in the securities industry through its Smith Barney subsidiary.
Credit Suisse is a major international banking firm headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland and founded in 1856. Its major lines of business in the U.S. include private banking, asset management and investment banking. Much of its investment banking operations are the legacy of a business combination with First Boston.
HSBC (formerly the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) is a leading international banking and securities firm, with one of the most recognized brand names in banking around the world.
Hudson City Savings Bank is the largest thrift in the U.S. by market capitalization and among the top 50 banks by assets. Conservative lending policies have allowed it to ride out the 2007-08 credit crisis while posting record profits.
JPMorgan Chase is a major integrated financial services firm, a leader in both the banking and securities sectors. With the acquisition of assets from failed Washington Mutual (WaMu), JP Morgan Chase has become a close contender for largest bank in the U.S.
Northern Trust is a leader in custodial services, asset management and wealth management, headquartered in Chicago.
PNC (Pittsburgh National Corporation) is a top-tier bank that will rank #4 nationally in branches and #5 nationally in deposits with the acquisition of National City Corporation. PNC is also a leading player in mutual funds servicing and asset management.
State Street is a major provider of asset management, wealth management and securities services. It is a leader in various categories of back office operations performed on behalf of mutual funds and other investment companies.
SunTrust is a leading regional bank in the southeastern U.S.
TD Bank Financial Group is a major banking, discount securities brokerage and insurance company headquartered in Toronto and with extensive operations in the U.S. TD Bank (formerly Commerce Bank) and TD Banknorth are its banking brands in the U.S., while TD Waterhouse and TD Ameritrade are its brokerage subsidiaries.
UBS is a global banking giant headquartered in Switzerland. It is a major competitor in wealth management, asset management and investment banking in the U.S.
Wachovia agreed to be acquired by Wells Fargo on October 3, 2008, creating a new nationwide mega-bank with branches in 39 states plus a major nationwide securities brokerage division.
Washington Mutual became the largest bank failure in U.S. history on September 25, 2008. WaMu had expanded into 15 states from its base in Seattle, through mergers and an aggressive advertising campaign. JPMorgan Chase has acquired the assets of Washington Mutual.
Wells Fargo is based in California and is a market leader in many western states. The acquisition of Wachovia gives Wells Fargo a major presence in the East (and in 39 states overall), and makes it a major national player in securities brokerage. Wells Fargo has remained strongly profitable through the credit crisis of 2007-08.
Debt collection agencies are hired by banks and other lending institutions to recoup payments on loans that have gone in arrears. They also are hired by various other providers of expensive goods and services (notably hospitals) to collect on large bills that have gone unpaid. Debt collection tends to be a counter-cyclical business that thrives in recessionary times when the number of debtors in arrears on their payment surges.
Loan modification companies mediate between borrowers and lenders, especially regarding mortgage loans, in cases where the borrower is unable to repay the loan on the prescribed timetable.
