cover letter banking sample

6 Professional Banking Cover Letter Examples for 2024

Your banking cover letter must immediately highlight your understanding of financial trends and economic regulations. It should demonstrate familiarity with the specific banking institution to which you're applying. Be sure to showcase your previous banking experience and your ability to foster client relationships. Your cover letter needs to reflect both your analytical skills and your commitment to customer service excellence.

All cover letter examples in this guide

Commercial Banking

Corporate Banking

Loan Officer

Loan Processor

Phone Banking

Cover letter guide.

Banking Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience Banking Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Crafting a banking cover letter can often feel daunting. You might have already dived into job applications, only to realize a punchy cover letter is a must-have. It's not about echoing your resume; it's about showcasing a key professional triumph and bringing your journey to that success to life. Remember, formality is key, but dodging clichés will make you stand out. And keeping it concise to one page is crucial. Let's guide you through writing a cover letter that opens doors.

• Create a banking cover letter to persuade the recruiters you're the best candidate for the role;
• Use industry-leading banking cover letter templates and examples to save time;
• Dedicate your banking cover letter space to your best achievement;
• Make sure your banking cover letter meets recruiters' expectations and standards.

Avoid starting at the blank page for hours by using Enhancv's AI - just upload your resume and your banking cover letter will be ready for you to (tweak and) submit for your dream job.

If the banking isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

• Banking resume guide and example
• Financial Accountant cover letter example
• Public Accounting Auditor cover letter example
• Finance Coordinator cover letter example
• Corporate Accounting cover letter example
• Bank Manager cover letter example
• VP of Finance cover letter example
• Tax Manager cover letter example
• Cost Accounting cover letter example
• Finance Manager cover letter example
• Tax Director cover letter example

Banking cover letter example

Alex Johnson

New York, NY

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Explicitly stating relevant previous experience, such as managing relationships with over 500 customers at Chase Bank, provides concrete evidence of capability in the field and assures the hiring manager of the candidate's qualifications for the customer relationship role.
• Quantifying achievements, like citing a 95% customer satisfaction rate and a 30% reduction in customer complaints, helps to objectively demonstrate the candidate's impact and effectiveness in the previous position.
• Identifying a specific initiative, such as leading the integration of a new CRM system, exhibits the candidate’s ability to innovate and improve processes, which could translate into similar successes in the new role.
• Expressing eagerness to apply strategic vision and skills to the potential employer's institution, and aligning personal commitment with the company's core values, shows the hiring manager that the candidate is not only qualified but also genuinely interested in the company's mission.

What about your banking cover letter format: organizing and structuring your information

Here is one secret you should know about your banking cover letter assessment. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't analyze your cover letter.

You should thus focus on making an excellent impression on recruiters by writing consistent:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs (and explanation)
• Promise or Call to action
• Signature (that's optional)

Now, let's talk about the design of your banking cover letter.

Ensure all of your paragraphs are single-spaced and have a one-inch margins on all sides (like in our cover letter templates ).

Also, our cover letter builder automatically takes care of the format and comes along with some of the most popular (and modern) fonts like Volkhov, Chivo, and Bitter.

Speaking of fonts, professionals advise you to keep your banking cover letter and resume in the same typography and avoid the over-used Arial or Times New Roman.

When wondering whether you should submit your banking cover letter in Doc or PDF, select the second, as PDF keeps all of your information and design consistent.

The top sections on a banking cover letter

• Header: This should include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact details, providing a professional appearance and ensuring that the recruiter can easily identify and get in touch with you.
• Greeting: A personalized greeting addressing the hiring manager by name demonstrates that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the position at their banking institution.
• Introduction: In this section, you should clearly state the banking position you are applying for and give a brief overview of your relevant experience, capturing the recruiter's interest and showing immediate relevance.
• Body: Here, you elaborate on your previous banking experience, quantitative achievements, and understanding of financial principles, showing how your background makes you the right fit for the specific banking role you are pursuing.
• Closing: The closing should reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, include a call to action politely prompting an interview, and thank the hiring manager for considering your application, leaving a professional and courteous final impression.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

Understanding of Financial Regulations: Banks must adhere strictly to financial regulations, and showing knowledge in this area indicates a candidate's readiness to operate within legal and ethical boundaries.

Attention to Detail: Handling financial transactions requires precision, and even small errors can have significant repercussions, making this trait critical in banking roles.

Customer Service Skills: Bankers often interact with customers, requiring the ability to manage relationships, address concerns effectively, and maintain customer satisfaction and trust.

Sales Experience: Many banking positions have sales components, such as promoting credit cards or loans, hence experience in sales reflects the potential for revenue generation.

Risk Management: The ability to identify and mitigate financial risks is crucial in banking to protect the institution's assets and maintain financial stability.

Numeracy and Analytical Skills: A strong aptitude for numbers and the ability to analyze financial data are essential for making informed decisions in a banking context.

What greeting should you use in your banking cover letter salutation

A simple "Hello" or "Hey" just won't work.

With your banking cover letter salutation , you set the tone of the whole communication.

You should thus address the hiring managers by using their first (or last name) in your greeting.

But how do you find out who's recruiting for the role?

The easiest way is to look up the role on LinkedIn or the corporate website.

Alternatively, you could also contact the organization via social media or email, for more information.

Unable to still obtain the recruiter's name?

Don't go down the "To whom it may concern path". Instead, start your cover letter with a "Dear HR team".

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear [Bank Name] Recruitment Team,
• Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],
• Dear [Department Name] Team,
• Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
• Dear [Position Title] Hiring Committee,

Your banking cover letter intro: showing your interest in the role

On to the actual content of your banking cover letter and the introductory paragraph .

The intro should be no more than two sentences long and presents you in the best light possible.

Use your banking cover letter introduction to prove exactly what interests you in the role or organization. Is it the:

• Company culture;
• Growth opportunities;
• Projects and awards the team worked on/won in the past year;
• Specific technologies the department uses.

When writing your banking cover letter intro, be precise and sound enthusiastic about the role.

Your introduction should hint to recruiters that you're excited about the opportunity and that you possess an array of soft skills, e.g. motivation, determination, work ethic, etc.

Structuring your banking cover letter body to add more value

You've hinted at your value as a professional (this may be your passion for the job or interest in the company) in your introduction.

Next, it's time to pan out the body or middle of your banking cover letter .

When creating your resume, you've probably gone over the advert a million times to select the most relevant skills.

Well, it's time to repeat this activity. Or just copy and paste your previous list of job-crucial requirements.

Then, select one of your past accomplishments, which is relevant and would impress hiring managers.

Write between three and six paragraphs to focus on the value your professional achievement would bring to your potential, new organization.

Tell a story around your success that ultimately shows off your real value as a professional.

Finishing off your banking cover letter with what matters most

So far, you've done a fantastic job in tailoring your banking cover letter for the role and recruiter.

Your final opportunity to make a good impression is your closing paragraph.

And, no, a "Sincerely yours" just won't do, as it sounds too vague and impersonal.

End your banking cover letter with the future in mind.

So, if you get this opportunity, what do you plan to achieve? Be as specific, as possible, of what value you'd bring to the organization.

You could also thank recruiters for their interest in your profile and prompt for follow-up actions (and organizing your first interview).

No experience banking cover letter: making the most out of your profile

Candidates who happen to have no professional experience use their banking cover letter to stand out.

Instead of focusing on a professional achievement, aim to quantify all the relevant, transferrable skills from your life experience.

Once again, the best practice to do so would be to select an accomplishment - from your whole career history.

Another option would be to plan out your career goals and objectives: how do you see yourself growing, as a professional, in the next five years, thanks to this opportunity?

Be precise and concise about your dreams, and align them with the company vision.

Key takeaways

Writing your banking cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:

• Create an individual banking cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
• Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your banking cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
• Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your banking cover letter to make a good first impression;
• Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
• End your banking cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.

Banking cover letter examples

Explore additional banking cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Cover letter examples by industry

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• Content tailored to the job posting you're applying for
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Banking cover letter examples

If you’re hoping to land your next banking role, then you need a cover letter that’s right on the money.

In our step-by-step guide, we’ll share our top tips and advice for writing an impressive application.

We’ve also created some banking cover letter examples to inspire your own. Check them out below.

CV templates 

Banking cover letter example 1

Banking cover letter example 2

Banking cover letter example 3

These 3 Banking cover letter example s should provide you with a good steer on how to write your own cover letter, and the general structure to follow.

Our simple step-by-step guide below provides some more detailed advice on how you can craft a winning cover letter for yourself, that will ensure your CV gets opened.

How to write a Banking cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When writing your Banking cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.

This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.

If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.

If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.

Start with a friendly greeting

To start building rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager right away, lead with a friendly greeting.

Try to strike a balance between professional and personable.

Go with something like…

• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Stay away from old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies – they can come across as cold and robotic.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try to uncover it via these methods.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *Banking role* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.

Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.

Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.

Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your Banking cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your Banking cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

• Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
• Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
• The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
• Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
• Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

Banking cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Banking cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Hello Harry

I am keen to showcase my interest in the Bank Manager position at Investec. With a distinguished career in the financial service industry spanning over 15 years, I am excited about the opportunity to lead a dynamic team, steer exceptional customer experiences, and contribute to the success of your company.

Throughout my career at Metro Bank, I have held progressively responsible roles, where I honed my expertise in optimising branch operations, client service, team management, and business development across all activities. Some of the significant contributions I have played throughout my time at Metro Bank include, increasing deposits by 30% through integrating targeted marketing campaigns and relationship-building strategies, developing training programs which enhanced branch staff’s cross-selling of bank products by 50%, and lessening annual expenses by £80K by negotiating favourable contracts with suitable vendors.

My passion for fostering a customer-centric culture has been the driving force behind my success, and I am confident that my collaborative approach and ability to build and maintain relationships will ensure continued growth for Investec as a whole. Thank you very much for considering my application and I hope to hear from you very soon regarding scheduling an interview.

Kind regards

Ellen Mount ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I hope you’re well. I am thrilled to apply for the Private Banker role at Santander, as advertised on Indeed. With a successful track record in wealth management and a deep commitment to delivering personalised financial solutions to high-net-worth clients, I am eager to contribute my expertise to your institution.

I possess 7 years of experience as a Private Banker at CitiBank, where I increased AUM by 20% since 2016, successfully generated £3M in revenue and exceeded individual/team targets through cross-selling financial products to clients. I also boosted CSAT scores by 10% within 3-months due to promptly addressing any complaints.

I am eager to leverage my skills to enhance your establishment’s reputation and ensure to its continued success. As a highly analytical professional, I thrive in dynamic market environments and excel at navigating complex financial landscapes. My dedication to providing exceptional service is matched by my commitment to stay abreast of industry trends and guaranteeing my clients receive the most relevant advice.

Thank you for considering my application and look forward to attending an interview at your convenience.

Simon Piles ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Good morning, Gary

I am excited to apply for the Junior Teller role at Fidelity Bank. I am eager to leverage my skills and commitment towards maintaining the high standards of service associated with your institution.

Throughout my academic journey and part-time experiences, I have developed a deep understanding of banking procedures, where I gained valuable insights into the importance of accuracy, confidentiality, and efficiency in handling transactions. As a recent HND Banking Graduate from Lincoln College, I possess theoretical knowledge in financial accounting and economics.

Additionally, I completed a one-year internship at TD Group where I was exposed to real-world cash handling, account management, and customer interactions. During this internship I assisted in the implementation of a new process for addressing inquiries that reduced wait times by 20%, as well as assuring a 100% record of compliance with bank policies which led to successful audits with no major findings.

Please feel free to reach out to me via email or by phone at your convenience to schedule an interview. Thank you for considering my application.

Lisa McKenzie ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Banking job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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Banking cover letter example

Sometimes it’s bad news when you get a letter from the bank. But let’s talk about writing a letter to the bank. Because if you’re a banker looking for work, you’re going to need to write one — a persuasive banker cover letter.

Even if you’ve already created the perfect resume, you’re only half done. This article will discuss the crucial other half of your banker application, the cover letter. Resume.io is a leading provider of job search advice and tools, with resources that include more than 180 occupation-specific writing guides and corresponding cover letter examples.

The guide you're reading now is backed by a banking cover letter example that you can adapt for your own use.

What we’ll discuss here:

• Why a banking cover letter is a critical component of your job application
• How a cover letter is structured and what each component should contain for optimal impact: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
• Proper design for a banker cover letter and why looks matter
• The psychology of persuasive writing
• Mistakes to avoid
• Tips for writing a banking cover letter when you lack experience

The job outlook for banking

“Banking” is a blanket term for a wide variety of finance-related occupations, everything from investment banking to starting out as a bank teller, but in general bankers are well-paid and in demand. For example, loan officers earned a median annual salary of $63,960 in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. J ob growth of 1% was anticipated for this profession from 2020 through 2030, much slower than the occupational average.

The banking industry grows a bit more complicated every year as new financial products are designed and new technologies develop to manage and move money globally. Banks also have to guard against the increasingly sophisticated cybercrimes that banking activity inevitably attracts. 

The good news is, if you’re a banker seeking a job, all you need are two pieces of paper. Just two! Imagine a business loan application that was so simple.

The two documents you need are an outstanding resume and an irresistible cover letter. The resume covers your employment history, education and skills. But the cover letter is how you get your foot in the door.  

For more ideas, take a look at some other cover letter writing guides and examples in our accounting & finance category listed below. 

• Accounting cover letter sample
• Finance cover letter sample
• Administration cover letter sample
• Bookkeeper cover letter sample
• Finance Assistant cover letter sample
• Finance Manager cover letter sample
• Bank Teller cover letter sample
• Auditor cover letter sample
• Private Equity cover letter sample
• Accounting and finance cover letter sample
• Bank Manager cover letter sample
• Loan Processor cover letter sample
• Accounting Internship cover letter sample
• Financial Advisor cover letter sample
• CFO cover letter sample

Why a banker needs a cover letter

Imagine you’ve been working at a bank for six years and you’d like to be considered for promotion to a new position. Would you just stick your resume under your boss’s door and wait to hear back? 

Hopefully, you would approach your boss in person, ask if s/he had a moment to talk, and then make a brief but persuasive pitch, emphasizing your previous achievements on the job and explaining why you’re ready to embrace some new challenge. Then you can hand the boss your resume. Which of these strategies do you think would be more successful — the resume stuck under the door or the personal approach?

The whole point of a cover letter is to make a personal approach to someone who has the power to offer you a job. While your job application may be subjected to all kinds of electronic filters, ultimately you’ll need a human being to offer you a job. This is your chance to introduce yourself to that person. 

There may be debate about whether or not to write a cover letter, but according to LinkedIn , you’re always better off making the extra effort.

Surveys of hiring managers have found that one of the top reasons resumes are rejected is because they aren’t accompanied by cover letters. A resume without a cover letter is like a flyer stuck under a windshield wiper: People usually throw them away.

Getting the tone right for your banker cover letter

Banking is among the most traditional and buttoned-down professions. Investment bankers don’t go to their jobs on Wall Street wearing tank tops. There’s a formality that pervades the industry, and it’s reflected in the way letters are written. Unless you belong to an uncontacted tribe in the Amazon, you’ve probably received a letter from a bank. Letters from banks tend to be friendly but professional, getting to the point quickly and informatively, and then inviting you to contact the bank if you have any questions or need any help.

Your cover letter should hit all the same notes. Keep it short, friendly and professional, yet use this space to make an irresistible pitch, and close with a call to action. The whole point of a cover letter is to establish a personal connection to a hiring manager. So while you’re writing a formal business letter, it should also be written with a personal touch.

Hold your cover letter to one page, with a maximum of 400 words, and put some thought into writing it. You need to find the right tone, and use that voice to highlight your experience, training and other qualifications for the job.

Always include a cover letter with a resume unless you are specifically asked not to. A few employers prefer that you send a resume only, and of course you have to respect their wishes. But it’s their loss, because a cover letter is a better vehicle than a resume to convey a candidate’s personality, enthusiasm, friendliness and professionalism.

Here is exactly how you can write a cover letter that will stand out from the crowd, and help you land that interview.

Best format for a banking cover letter

While your bank cover letter offers a lot of latitude when it comes to the tone and content, most cover letters should follow the same basic structure:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting
• The introduction
• The letter body
• The conclusion
• The signature.

Below is a banker cover letter example that you can customize for the position and hiring organization.

17 August, 2020

Dear Mr. Looker,

As a fluent Arabic speaker with four years of investment banking experience in the US/MEA markets, the analyst position at Borton would offer a fascinating next step in my international investment banking career.

After my bachelor’s degree in Finance, I spent three years working in corporate finance, but after my online MBA from Wharton, I started an analyst role in the M&A team at Flux Capital. Over the past four years at Max, I have been the lead analyst for six deals totalling $1.8 billion and have collaborated closely on dozens of others. I have considerable experience in accounting and risk analysis in international markets, with FDI experience concentrated around the Middle East.

As well as working on the valuations and financial viability assessments, I created and updated pitch books and became proficient in writing executive summaries. I enclose non-confidential examples of my best writing work — words make a difference when you are building trust. Giving the right data to the right person gets any deal across the line.

Given that Flux Capital was a boutique firm, I was tasked with raising our profile at networking events and conferences, allowing me to finesse my influencing skills. I am applying to Borton because your scale offers a broader range of opportunities, but I am certain that my “small guy” business development mentality will nevertheless prove useful.

• Lead analyst on $850 million M&A of US/Saudi natural resources acquisition.
• Supported the IPO process for eight start-ups onto the NYSE over a four-year period.
• Used my programming experience to update our in-house financial viability tools.

I am familiar with the culture and reputation of Borton as my uncle is a client and it has been a long-held ambition to work for you. When a role became available, I simply had to put my name in the running for an interview.

Yours sincerely,

Let’s explore what each cover letter component should contain.

Cover letter header

The header of your letter should be an attractively designed section at the top that contains your name, address, phone number and email. Often it will also mention your occupation — for instance, “Investment Banker”.

Other than letting the company know how to reach you, the header is a design element that provides some visual relief from what would otherwise be solid paragraphs of black text.

Your banker resume and cover letter should be designed in the same style — fonts, font sizes and formatting. This gives you a “visual brand” and shows that you’re organized and you pay attention to detail.

Mixing several different fonts and styles will make your resume and cover letter look like Frankenstein’s monster — random parts badly stitched together. Strive for a coherent and consistent design.

Goal of the cover letter header: Distinguish yourself from other job applicants with a visually distinctive style that makes your letter inviting to read. Prominently displaying your contact information makes it easy for impressed recruiters to get in touch.

Greeting for a banker cover letter 

This is the line that says, “Dear Mr. (or Ms.),” followed by the last name of the hiring manager. 

You should almost always try to address your letter to a specific individual rather than the entire company. People like to read their own names, and letters that are addressed to an individual rather than an entire company are more likely to get a reply. Also, it shows your attention to detail if you’ve gone to the trouble of finding out the name of the appropriate person to address.

If you’re responding to a job listing that doesn’t mention the name of the hiring manager, it may be worthwhile to call the company and inquire. But if the company prefers that letters be addressed more generically, follow its wishes. Sometimes you have to use a greeting that says something like “Dear (Employer) Hiring Team.”

Goal of the cover letter greeting: Start off on a professional note while making a direct personal connection with the hiring manager.

Cover letter introduction

Your intro should be an attention-grabbing paragraph that identifies your job objective and briefly previews your qualifications for the job. Use energetic, lively language that shows enthusiasm and confidence, but beware of crossing a line into arrogance or excessive familiarity. Set the right tone from the beginning, and write an opening paragraph that will make your correspondent want to read more.

Goal of the cover letter introduction: Capture the hiring manager’s attention with an intriguing preview of your qualifications that motivates further reading..

Here’s an introduction idea from our banking cover letter sample.

Sample of a cover letter body 

In the central two or three paragraphs of your letter, you have to make your primary case. This is where you describe your work experience, your past achievements in banking and any other qualifications that make you a good fit for the job you’re seeking.

Be specific in describing your accomplishments at past jobs, using facts and figures wherever possible (think numbers, dollar figures, percentages, etc.). Also, try to use an anecdote or two to describe a specific challenge you faced in the past as a banker and how you resolved it.

You may also choose to use the body of your letter to discuss your education, any special certifications or credentialing, and perhaps the reasons for your interest in this particular company. Compare your cover letter to your resume, and while some cross-over is inevitable, try to use the valuable space in your letter to say something your resume doesn’t.

Remember that your letter should not be about why you deserve a job, but about how you can help this company solve its problems, save money or increase efficiency. Emphasize how you can help them, not how they can help you.

Goal of the cover letter body: Persuade this employer that your contributions as a banker would be beneficial..

Our banker cover letter sample illustrates what you might include in the middle part.

Cover letter conclusion and signature

Your last paragraph should contain some kind of call to action —you are looking forward to a reply, you would be delighted to schedule an interview, etc. 

You may even wish to ask if you could call in a week or so to follow up. This shows that you’re serious about this particular job and not just mailing letters at random. Put yourself in the shoes of the person you’re writing to — wouldn’t you pay just a bit more attention if you knew that this letter writer would be calling you soon?

However, it’s possible that some employers might find such a suggestion a bit pushy. Study your target, and write your pitch accordingly.

Your sign-off should generally be a simple “Sincerely” or the equivalent, followed by a space and your typed name. You can also insert your actual scanned signature if you like, though this is not considered essential in electronic correspondence.

Goal of the cover letter closing: End on a positive, self-assured note that suggests you expect the hiring manager will get in touch.

Below is the closing section of our banker cover letter example.

Layout, design and formatting of your banker cover letter

Your letter should look as good as it reads, and that’s why it’s important to follow some basic rules for good design and formatting.

• Fonts: Choose a modern, easy-to-read font that looks attractive but doesn’t call attention to itself. Beware of exotic fonts that may turn to garble on someone else’s computer.
• Font size: Use a font size of 10 to 12 points. If you’re having trouble holding your letter to one page, trim your text before you try to solve the problem by reducing the font size.
• Margins: Include one-inch margins on the left, right, bottom and top.
• Alignment: Body text should be aligned left, not justified from margin to margin. Leave a space between paragraphs, and keep the paragraphs short.
• White space: Don’t overlook the importance of leaving space on your page that contains nothing at all. Good design always includes an appropriate amount of white space to give the eye a break.
• File format: Unless you’re specifically asked for a Word file, save your cover letter as a PDF. The main advantage of a PDF is that it will preserve the formatting of your letter so that it looks the same on any computer. With other file types, you run the risk that some of your text may become unreadable, and it may jump all over the page in places where you didn’t put it.
• Use a professional template: To sidestep all of these potential pitfalls, use a professionally designed cover letter template from resume.io. We’ve taken care of all the formatting for you, so all you have to do is fill in your own content.

The psychology of writing a cover letter for a banker job

Never forget that you are writing a letter to a human being, and you need to think about how it will be received. Put yourself in the shoes of your correspondent, and write in a human voice that is professional but personable.

Psychologists say we all react to different stimuli with a combination of emotional and rational responses. Emotional responses are quicker and more automatic, but more deeply felt. Rational responses are slower and more deliberative. An ideal cover letter should inspire both.

So while this is a professional business letter, don’t hesitate to include language that appeals to the heart as well as the head. “Emotional language” might include some reference to your passions and desires, while “rational language” could be a more factual recitation of your employment history and banking career achievements.

Try using the AIDA model to inject your letter with emotional appeal:

• Grab the reader’s attention by telling a story about yourself related to the job
• Increase interest level by appealing to the hiring manager’s needs
• Create a desire to hire you by detailing how you satisfy the job requirements
• Close with a call to action.

It’s important to study each employer carefully to determine the best approach. If you’re aware of specific needs or problems the company has, and if you have your own strategy for resolving them, say so. It’s always a good idea to include something in a cover letter that shows you’re writing to a specific employer and not mass-mailing a letter to all.

You should also look at the tone of voice the company uses in addressing the public. Most banks use a friendly but formal voice on their websites and in communications with customers. You should endeavor to match the style and tone used by your prospective employer.

You should also consider your position as a banker relative to the employer. If a bank is seeking a new CEO and you’re eminently qualified, you would probably write in a more authoritative voice than a college student looking for her first internship.

Mistakes to avoid in a banking cover letter

Here are some of the common mistakes people make in writing cover letters:

• Writing errors: These include typos, misspellings and errors in grammar, punctuation and capitalization. Surveys have found that simple writing mistakes are the most common reason job applications are rejected.  
• Clichés: “I am writing to….” Stop there! We already know you’re writing, because we’re reading your letter. “Please consider this letter my application for….” Ditto! Other clichés include describing yourself as a “self-starter” or a “team player” who “thinks outside the box. Avoid using stock phrases that every recruiter has read a thousand times before, and strive for fresh, original language.  
• Non-customized letters: If your letter says nothing specific about the company you’re writing to, most hiring managers will assume it’s the same copy-and-paste letter that you’re also sending to all their competitors. Make every cover letter unique, targeted to a specific employer.  
• Irrelevant info: Avoid discussing your hobbies or other aspects of your life that aren’t relevant to the job you’re seeking.  
• Design errors: Strange fonts, tiny margins, huge blocks of text, zero white space and other formatting errors can disqualify your letter at a glance.

Banking cover letter sample with no experience

You may feel that you are stuck in a circular situation: You can’t get a banking job without experience and you can’t get experience without a banking job. That’s a frustration every worker has felt, yet they all got their first job somehow. 

The key is to start with the skills you do have. If you are new to the banking industry, but not to the workforce, explain in your banker cover letter why you want to move into banking. Then, highlight the skills you used in your previous jobs that will transfer to banking. 

Any business or project manager work ranks high, so check out resume.io cover letter examples for those fields, too. Emphasize your communication, organization and problem-solving skills — all abilities that will stand you in good stead in any career.

Consider mentioning your emotional intelligence , also known as emotional quotient or EQ, because, according to Forbes , hiring managers know that a vast majority of their high performers also rank high in this area.

Key takeaways for a banking cover letter

• Bankers who are seeking employment need an excellent resume and an outstanding cover letter, the latter in order to make a personal appeal to a hiring manager.
• A cover letter is your way of introducing yourself personally to a prospective employer. You should always include a cover letter in a job application unless you’re specifically asked not to.
• Cover letters have a formal structure that you should adhere to, and each component of your letter should serve a specific function.
• Design can be as important as content, and you must ensure that your letter adheres to basic rules about fonts, formatting and the overall look.
• Every cover letter should be unique and targeted to a specific employer.
• A professionally designed template can save you from a multitude of errors. The quickest and safest way to write a cover letter is to start with a proven structure where all you have to do is add your own information.

Free professionally designed templates

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The Investment Banking Cover Letter Template You’ve Been Waiting For

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A long time ago I said that we would never post a cover letter template here :

“I was tempted to post a Word template, but I don’t want 5,000 daily visitors to copy it and to start using the same exact cover letter.”

But hey, we already have resume templates that everyone is using, so why not go a step further and give you a cover letter template as well?

Plus, “investment banking cover letter” is one of the top 10 search terms visitors use to find this site – so you must be looking for a template.

The Template & Tutorial

Let’s jump right in:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template [Download]

Download Template – Word

Download Template – PDF

And here’s the video that explains everything:

(For more free training and financial modeling videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel .)

And if you’d rather read, here’s the text version:

Do Cover Letters Actually Matter?

At bulge bracket banks, people barely read cover letters.

Cover letters matter 10x less than resumes and 100x less than networking.

But there are a few special cases where they’re more important:

• Boutiques and Local Banks – Sometimes they actually read cover letters.
• Unusual Backgrounds – If you’re NOT in university or business school at the moment, you may need to explain yourself in more detail.
• Outside the US – In Europe, for example, some banks pay more attention to cover letters, online applications, and so on.

Similar to grades and test scores, a great cover letter won’t set you apart but a poor one will hurt you – so let’s find out how to avoid that.

Keep your cover letter compact and avoid 0.1″ margins and size 8 font.

With resumes you can get away with shrinking the font sizes and margins if you really need to fit in extra information, but this is questionable with cover letters.

Go for 0.75″ or 1″ margins and at least size 10 font.

With resumes there were a couple different templates depending on your level – but with cover letters that’s not necessary and you can use the same template no matter your background.

1 Page Only

Ok, maybe they do things differently in Australia (just like with resumes) but aside from that there is no reason to write a multi-page cover letter.

If you actually have enough experience to warrant multiple pages, do it on your resume instead and keep the cover letter brief.

Contact Information

List your own information – name, address, phone number, and email address – right-aligned up at the top.

Then, below that you list the date and the name and contact information for the person you’re writing to, left-aligned on the page.

If you don’t have this information you can just list the company name and address and use a “Dear Sir or Madam” greeting.

That’s not ideal – especially if you’re applying to smaller firms where cover letters actually get read – but it’s all you can do if you can’t find a person’s name.

If you’re sending the cover letter via email as the body of the email, you can omit all this information and just include the greeting at the top.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

This is where you explain who you are, where you’re currently working or studying, and how you found the bank that you’re applying to.

Name-drop as much as possible:

• Impressive-sounding university or business school ? Mention it. Even if it’s not well-known, you still need to mention it here.
• Your company name , especially if it’s recognizable, and the group you’re working in, especially if it’s something relevant to finance like business development.
• How you found them – specific peoples’ names , specific presentations or information sessions where you met them, and so on.
• The position you’re applying for (Analyst? Associate?) – especially for smaller places that are not well-organized.

This first paragraph is all about grabbing their attention.

Example 1st Paragraph:

“My name is John Smith and I am currently a 3rd year economics major at UCLA. I recently met Fred Jackson from the M&A group at Goldman Stanley during a presentation at our school last week, and was impressed with what I learned of your culture and recent deal flow. I am interested in pursuing an investment banking summer analyst position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.”

Paragraph 2: Your Background

You go through your most relevant experience and how the skills you gained will make you a good banker right here.

Do not list all 12 internships or all 5 full-time jobs you’ve had – focus on the most relevant 1-2, once again name-dropping where appropriate (bulge bracket banks / large PE firms / Fortune 500 companies).

Highlight the usual skills that bankers want to see – teamwork, leadership, analytical ability, financial modeling and so on.

If you worked on a high-impact project / deal / client, you can point that out and list the results as well.

This may be your longest paragraph, but you still don’t want to write War and Peace – keep it to 3-4 sentences.

Example 2nd Paragraph:

“I have previously completed internships in accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers and in wealth management at UBS. Through this experience working directly with clients, analyzing financial statements, and making investment recommendations, I have developed leadership and analytical skills and honed my knowledge of accounting and finance. I also had the opportunity to work with a $20M net-worth client at UBS and completely revamped his portfolio, resulting in a 20% return last year.”

Paragraph 3: Why You’re a Good Fit

Now you turn around and link your experience and skills to the position more directly and explain that leadership + quantitative skills + accounting/finance knowledge = success.

There is not much to this part – just copy the template and fill in the blanks.

Example 3rd Paragraph:

“Given my background in accounting and wealth management and my leadership and analytical skills, I am a particularly good fit for the investment banking summer analyst position at your firm. I am impressed by your track record of clients and transactions at Goldman Stanley and the significant responsibilities given to analysts, and I look forward to joining and contributing to your firm.”

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

This part’s even easier: remind them that your resume is enclosed (or attached if sent via email), thank them for their time, and give your contact information once again so they don’t have to scroll to the top to get it.

Example 4th Paragraph:

“A copy of my resume is enclosed for your reference. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you and learn more about Goldman Stanley at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at 310-555-1234 or via email at [email protected]. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.”

Unusual Backgrounds

These examples cover how to apply to a bank if you’re in university, business school, or you’ve been working for several years.

If you have a more unusual background (e.g. you went to med school, graduated, started your residency, but then decided you wanted to be an investment banker), then you might need to add a few sentences to paragraph #2 or #3 explaining yourself.

Resist the urge to write your life story because no one will read it – interviews are a much better venue to prove how committed you are.

Email vs. Attachments

If you’re emailing your cover letter and resume, do you create a separate cover letter attachment?

Or do you make the body of your email the cover letter?

I think it’s redundant to create a separate cover letter and attach it, so don’t bother unless they ask specifically for a separate cover letter.

If you’re making the body of your email the cover letter, make it even shorter (4-5 sentences total) and cut out the address bits at the top.

Optional Cover Letters?

If you’re applying online and it says “Optional Cover Letter” should you still upload one?

You might as well because it takes 2 minutes once you have a good template – it’s not the end of the world if you don’t include one, but you never know what everyone else is doing and it’s not terribly time-consuming.

Cover Letter Mistakes

Remember the role of cover letters: great ones don’t help much, but poor ones get you dinged.

The biggest mistakes with cover letters:

• Making outrageous claims (“I’m a math genius!”) or trying to be “creative” with colors, pictures, fonts, and so on.
• Going on for too long – 10 paragraphs or multiple pages.
• Listing irrelevant information like your favorite ice cream, your favorite quotes from Wall Street or Boiler Room , and so on.

If you think this sounds ridiculous, remember the golden rule: do not overestimate the competition .

For every person reading this site, there are dozens more asking, “What it’s like to be an investment banker?” at information sessions.

Sometimes you hear stories of people who write “impassioned” cover letters, win the attention of a boutique, and get in like that …

…And I’m sure that happens, but you do not want to do that at large banks.

If you do, your cover letter will be forwarded to the entire world and your “career” will be destroyed in 5 minutes .

More Examples

As with resumes, there are hardly any good examples of investment banking cover letters online.

Most of the templates are horribly formatted and are more appropriate for equities in Dallas than real investment banking.

Here’s a slightly different but also good templates you could use:

• Best Cover Letters – MBA Template

More questions? Ask away.

Still Need More Help?

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When we’re done, your resume will grab bankers by the lapels and not let them go until they’ve given you an interview.

Specifically, here’s what you’ll get:

• Detailed, line-by-line editing of your resume/CV – Everything that needs to be changed will be changed. No detail is ignored.
• Your experience will be “bankified” regardless of whether you’ve been a student, a researcher, a marketer, a financier, a lawyer, an accountant, or anything else.
• Optimal structuring – You’ll learn where everything from Education to Work Experience to Activities should go. Regional badminton champion? Stamp collector? You’ll find out where those should go, too.
• The 3-point structure to use for all your “Work Experience” entries: simple, but highly effective at getting the attention of bankers.
• How to spin non-finance experience into sounding like you’ve been investing your own portfolio since age 12.
• How to make business-related experience, such as consulting, law, and accounting, sounds like “deal work.”
• How to avoid the fatal resume mistake that gets you automatically rejected . Nothing hurts more than making a simple oversight that gets you an immediate “ding”.
• We only work with a limited number of clients each month. In fact, we purposely turn down potential clients in cases where we cannot add much value. We prefer quality over quantity, and we always want to ensure that we can work well together first.

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Other Options for Personalized Help: Wall Street Mastermind

Finally, if you want to go  beyond your cover letter and also get help with your resume, work experience, networking, and interview prep, check out Wall Street Mastermind .

They’ve worked with over 1,000 students to help them secure high-paying investment banking jobs out of school (and internships while in school), and their coaches include a former Global Head of Recruiting at three different large banks.

They provide personalized, hands-on guidance through the entire networking and interview process – and they have a great track record of results for their clients.

It could be a great fit for you if you’re looking for comprehensive coaching through the entire process rather than just a new version of your resume or cover letter.

You can book a free consultation with them to learn more .

About the Author

Brian DeChesare is the Founder of Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street . In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, traveling, obsessively watching TV shows, and defeating Sauron.

Free Exclusive Report: 57-page guide with the action plan you need to break into investment banking - how to tell your story, network, craft a winning resume, and dominate your interviews

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279 thoughts on “ The Investment Banking Cover Letter Template You’ve Been Waiting For ”

I love how hand downs and direct this page is. Trying to break into IB come from a (semi-)target school but very bad GPA, love how you are always motivating, but realistic. Keep it up!

I am a sophomore and have a low gpa (2.5) should I include this on my cover letter? how do I stand out and not get dinged, low gpa because had to work full time freshman year because my dad lost his job, and my family had health issues. Am an only child.

All you can really do about a low GPA is network extensively so that people who know you can recommend you, and so you can avoid being filtered out by screening tools. See: https://mergersandinquisitions.com/low-gpa-investment-banking/

Maybe include a brief mention of why your GPA is lower in your cover letter, but focus on how you’ve improved since your first year (mention the higher GPA since then).

Thanks for the write up!

If i am writing my cover letter in the body of the email, Do i write the name of the recipient instead of dear Madam ?

I like it not bad

Hey Brian – thanks for this article. Quick question: is there a certain point in your career (in my case, I’m an associate) when you can stop with the cover letters even if they give you the option?

Cover letters are pretty much always optional unless they ask for one.

I was wondering for your template, you gave a solid and formal introduction. I also see other career advice sites that recommend making the cover letter “memorable” and straying away from the cookie cutter method with more flashy intros. As an example just from another online source: When I was seven, I wanted to be the GEICO gecko when I grew up. I eventually realized that wasn’t an option, but you can imagine my excitement when I came across the events manager position, which would have me working side by side with my favorite company mascot. So what’s your opinion on this? I’m sure it’s different for every field, so would you say the average investment banker appreciates something like this, or would it just make them roll their eyes and make you seem too keen/tryhard.

Same Andrew again…

Sorry I should’ve watched your video fully before asking. But you mentioned to not get too fancy with fonts, photos, etc. But would the bit of personal information outside the cookie cutter approach separate you in the slightest? To me, cover letters sound like they have the same purpose as GPA. A 4.0 (good but generic cover letter) won’t give you any advantages, but a 2.5 (poorly done letter) will eliminate you from the application process.

Yes, cover letters are basically used to weed out people, not to select them. You can include some personal information such as an interesting student group, study abroad, or experience that led you to IB, but don’t go overboard with trying to appear “interesting.” Save that for actual networking and interviews.

If you are applying to traditional “high finance” roles such as investment banking, private equity, etc., you should not do anything creative with your cover letter. It will only backfire. Firms either do not read cover letters, or if they do, they simply look at them to make sure you didn’t do something silly or inappropriate. You’re taking a very big risk by writing a “creative” cover letter, and one that has very little upside with tons of downside.

For online applications that request your resume, but do not specify whether a cover letter should be included, should I submit a cover letter? Also since you can only submit one document in these cases, should you compile resume and cover letter into one document?

Thanks so much.

If they just request your resume, just include your resume. I would not even bother with a cover letter or combining them into one document.

Do we have to leave

“Enclosure: Resume”

At the bottom of the Cover Letter? Many thanks

*In Online Application where they ask you to attach your CV and Cover Letter – if that makes any difference

Brina, many thanks for the quick answer. Just a last question:

Shall we sign between sincerely and our name or under our name?Both options are good?

Alternative A:

(Signature)

Alternative B:

The first one is slightly better.

I just wanted to thank you for not only this Cover Letter template but also your Resume template. I have used both and I have received great feedback from interviewers and getting my foot in the door for asset management.

Thanks! Glad to hear it. Good luck!

This question targets the paragraph listing relevant experiences & skills gained through it.

As a University Student with some corporate finance and consulting experience but nothing directly related to investment banking, do you think it would be relevant to list explain skills gained during university classes (e.g. a term project that simulated the entire M&A process based on a real life deal) that involved valuation, simulated investor calls, etc. Or do you believe sticking to actual work experience would be best suited.

Thanks a lot for all the content you post.

Stick to your work experience if you have actual CF and consulting internships. Maybe add a line or brief phrase within a line that mentions your learnings from university classes as well.

I live in the UK and I’ve been told cover letters carry a lot of weighting in the initial application process. I have written a cover letter which is 8 paragraphs but it’s still 1 page. Do you think this would be ok or should I take some stuff out? Thanks in advance, great website you have.

By the way, it’s still size 10 font but I had to reduce the line spacing between the paragraphs to fit it all in.

Cover letters only matter in the “negative” sense, i.e. if you write something stupid or have typos, you could lose an offer or interview opportunity. Your cover letter should be as short as possible, so 8 paragraphs is too long, especially if you had to reduce the font size to 10, which is too small. So, be more concise and realize that bankers glance at hundreds/thousands of these letters each recruiting season…

How do one relate a tax internship experience which I acquired In an accounting consulting firm to an investment banking internship I hope to start with with BofA

Talk about how your tax findings/work affected the big picture… did they potentially change the company’s valuation? What was the impact on the company’s financial statements? Did anything you did result in changes to the internal controls at the company? Did you do any tax work related to M&A or equity/debt deals?

Hi Brian, I have read that the header of a cover letter should match your resume. Is there a reason the header from the M&I resume template was not included in this cover letter template?

??? I think it would be very odd if your cover letter started with your name in a bigger font size at the top… so, no if that is what you are asking about. A cover letter should start with the normal heading of a letter. Your resume is different because it’s intended to present the key points in bullet/highlight format.

I agree. Thanks.

I’m applying online to banks in the EMEA area and most banks ask for my motivation – they don’t require a cover letter. Could I still use this template? or wouldn’t it make any sense to use this template?

If its the case that this template would not be useful, do you have any tips on what to focus on in such a motivation letter?

I think this template is too long for a simple question about your motivation. Your motivation should basically be the last part of your “story” – assuming 150 words for a competency question and a 300-word story. See:

https://mergersandinquisitions.com/walk-me-through-your-resume/

How do you travel like a dug dealer? haha…You are funny. Great info. Thanks a lot. I’m trying to break the front door at Piper Jaffray so I can put my little two feet inside that door.

hey, i am actually studying law in France but i wanted to go on trading/investment banking/hedge fund area. What would you suggest me ? Which arguments should I point out ?

Thanks a lot !

??? I’m not sure I understand your question.

The links for Workbloom – Investment Banking Intern Template and Vanderbilt – Cover Letter Template are not valid anymore. Is it possible to fix that? Thank you very much!

Sincerely, Frank

We don’t have alternate links, sorry. But the template there wasn’t much different anyway.

Hi Brian, I had a question in mind. I have been working with a Big four Audit firm in India for the past 10 months now, and have a Bachelors in Commerce degree from a non-target University here. The role here is Back-end, as in we do not have client interaction, and rather coordinate with the US/EMEA teams – which deal with the clients directly – for the work. Recently, I got a call from GS for an Analyst position under the Data Resource Group for its IB Division in India. How do you suggest I pitch my auditing experience to get an offer for this position? Also, considering the work I do here is back-end and basically, formatting files around and punching in numbers! Thanks in advance for your help!

I would just point out how your audit work led directly to results with clients and how you were a part of the client-interaction process, even if you didn’t speak with them directly. As a result, you have a good understanding of what they’re looking for and how to get them results most efficiently.

Thanks for the template. Is it correct to include in the cover letter an entreprise which I am auditing or not?

Sure, you could, but you have to be able to tie that to whatever role(s) you’re applying for.

Hi there, thanks for the cover letter template you provided. It’s a great help. Just wondering does the same template work for UK application? As you mentioned they tend to pay attention to cover letters.

Yes this template works for UK applications.

Thank you for sharing your blog, it helped a lot cos I am also having a hard time in writing a cover letter and I suck! Hope you can help more. Keep it up!

Thank you for sharing the template and guide! I am a recent college grad and just started working in an economic consulting firm (last month). I want to make the career transfer to IB and I am trying my best networking everywhere. I am applying for an IB analyst position and editing my cover letter. Should I still mention in the cover letter my leadership roles in college or it does not matter much?

Many thanks!

You can mention them briefly, but you should focus on your current role.

Thanks for the template! After working as an ER associate for 2 years in my hometown, I am moving from North America to Europe in the next few weeks. Should I mention in my cover letter something to the effect of “After visiting [country] several times over the past few years, I applied for and received my Work Visa” or will the recruiter assume I have a visa and do not require sponsorship? I just do not want to be passed over if they are assuming I will be a headache for them!

Furthermore, I am also hoping to move from ER to corporate. Besides tailoring the letter to reflect skills mentioned in the posting, are there any other changes that need to be made when moving out of capmarkets?

Thank you for your time!

Sure you can include this. Yes, I’d talk about why you want to move from ER to corporate and talk about why you prefer corporate over ER (perhaps you prefer the type of work in corporate better and you see yourself in a corporate vs. in a bank) and you want to move over to XX industry [the industry the corporate you’re applying for is in] given XX reason [ideally you’ve covered that industry in ER before]

Thank you Nicole. Should I be putting this explanation in paragraph 2? Or later on in the letter?

I’d probably list this later in the letter.

Hi, I’m studying in the US and applying to summer IBD internship in 3 different locations (New York, London, HK), so who should I address to in my cover letter since there is only one cover letter for three different recruiters? Thanks!

I’d say Dear Sir/Madam or To Whom It May Concern

when you express abbreviations, let’s say M&A, how do you put it in a cover letter? i.e., (“M&A”) or (M&A) without punctuations mark?

M&A is fine I believe

Hi! You mentioned that putting the name of the recruiter is always better than just a “Dear Sir/Madam”. When applying in London, do you think it is appropriate to address the cover letter to a recruiter I haven’t personally met that I just found his name via an internet search, specifically from Linkedin. Also, there are dozens recruiters for the same company on Linkedin, should I still address the letter to a specific person? What about if it is the director of HR? Should I address it to him/her directly?

Yes, I’d address the email to Director of HR. If you don’t know the person’s name, I’d say “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”

Hey, I have a question concerning applying for an internship at G&S in Europe. Instead of a cover letter they want you to submit a motivational statement with 300 words when applying, which is according to them similar to the cover letter. But I am a bit unsure that I express my motivation for applying for an investment banking postion with this cover letter because it focuses more on previous internships. Should I outline my internships and then explain that I want to pursue an career in IB because of them? and should I mention my extra curriculare activities which involve leadership experience and exotic interests?

I’d briefly touch on your previous experience and focus on why IB, and why GS. If the previous experience can serve as your IB spark, use them. So yes you can mention that you want to pursue a career in IB because of your previous internships, but don’t dive too deep given word limit and you can address that in interviews. No, the latter part should be demonstrated on your resume, unless you have space in the statement

What should you do in [Signature]?

I’m not sure I understand your question. I’d just insert your signature there.

Upload an image of your handwritten signature?

Yes you can do that. Copy and paste it below “Yours sincerely/Best Regards”

I resigned from my previous role in April this year as we were planning a family move to another country However, it did not materialize due to some unexpected changes and I have to start looking for a job again. This has left an employment gap of about 3 months in my resume. During this period, I have taken the BIWS course to enhance my knowledge. Shall I mention my current status and address that in my cover letter? or leave it out and talk about it when asked during interview?

Xavier, you can list that on your resume and cover letter. You may also want to talk about other activities you’ve done during those 3 months.

I am a first year associate working at a boutique bank on the trading floor and trying to switch into equity research/banking side. How is the cover letter different from the cover letter template above. Do I need to specifically state why I am switching?

Yes you need to address why you’re switching

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can gracefully address this? The reason why I am switching is because I don’t feel like I am learning much out of my positions – not being given much responsibilities, etc…

I’d focus on the positives on why you prefer the other division versus your current one; not what you’re lacking.

Hi, I am wondering when introducing my skill sets and experience in the second paragraph of the cover letter, is it appropriate to use bullet points? e.g. my key skills/experience include: bullet point: A bullet point: B

Yes you can do that, though a lot of times we find that its best to follow our template, unless you’re a very experienced candidate

I worked at a boutique investment bank for an internship and I was wondering how I may explain my low gpa on my cover letter. I would focus on my strengths and what I learned from the position but sooner or later the question of gpa will be addressed either during an interview or sent through email. How would I approach this?

This may come up in interviews and I’d address it then. I am not sure why you had a low GPA. If you had family/personal reasons you can list that. Otherwise if you were taking more advanced courses because you were too ambitious and got a lower GPA as a result of that you can list that too.

I’m applying to various finance and IB positions and my documents will be seen as a package sent through my school. I created my resume in a very similar format to the template on your website, only using .5″ margins. I have the same header layout (with name and personal info) on both my resume and cover letter. My question is regarding holding these .5″ margins on both of my documents to keep a consistent look. I’m just curious as to whether this would be a good or bad idea, or as to whether you think it would even matter.

I haven’t seen the format of your resume so I am not 100% sure. 0.5 margins maybe a bit crowded but depending on your content it can be doable. If you have lots of solid content, yes this is applicable. Otherwise, I’d shorten your content and go for the standard margins

Hey, this template isn’t just for investment banking right, it can be used for targeting internships in accounting as well? Same with the resume template?

If you change the paragraph from why IB to why accounting, you can use this template. The resume template is tailored to IB though you can use it for Accounting roles too

I graduated from a top school 1.5 years ago, but unfortunately ended up at a not so impressive bank. What’s the best way to name drop the school in the cover letter? Thanks.

First paragraph – you can just say that you are working at XX bank and have recently graduated from XX school

I am applying to three different divisions in the same investment bank that are different in nature (2 back office and one front) and there is only one cover letter for all three that asks you to describe your motivation for each. Since they are different positions, how do I go about this?

I’d be generic and focus on why finance and how you can make an impact to the firm

How about adding the recommendations from the previous job? Is it worth? Should we add it even if they do not menton about that?

You can provide recommendations upon request

Hi, I am wondering whether I need to include a signature in my cover letter for online application. If so, should I just insert it in the pdf document or scan a paper copy of the cover letter? Thanks!

Yes you can include it. Both works.

Yo’re welcome.

Just a follow-up question: I am applying for summer analyst position at CS, and they only allow one application per applicant. Should I use the same cover letter during campus recruiting (addressed to an alumnus) for my online application? Since I am applying to CS HK as well, I am wondering whether I should use a slightly different cover letter.

Sure I think this shouldn’t be a problem. Yes the HK one should be slightly different – i.e. why HK, why Chinese market

Dear M&I staff,

I’m a master student in Europe. I’m currently attending a Master of Science in Finance after completing a bachelor in business administration. Do you have any specific suggestion about my first paragraph? Also, if I can’t find the name of the recruiter, how can I start the letter? I was thinking about expressions such as “To whom it may concern…”; does this work?

Thanks in advance

Yes it does, or Dear Sir/Madam.

First paragraph – I’d follow the template on the post

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is [Insert Name] and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Finance at [Insert University Name] where I have also been awarded a Bachelor of Science with honors. How would this sound?

Sounds good, though I’d probably just use My name is [Insert Name] and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Finance at [Insert University].

Hey Brian/Nicole, Thank you guys so much for this website. I spend days on it reading your articles! lol I’m just wondering when I do the name-dropping on the cover letter, is it alright to put the company names in bold? or is that too much? What do you guys think?

Thank you for your kind comment. You should credit Brian for his hard work! I don’t think its necessary to bold company names. I think its probably better to leave it “unbolded.”

i a lil older i was originally an engineering major, left school (didnt graduate), started working as a stock broker, then mortgage broker, and then more sales background. I then re entered school and graduated with a degree with finance, gpa not so high bc of past screw ups, but now looking to break into finance. I love finance, and cant figure out how to convey that in a cover letter. can you help?

Focus on the impact you’ve made in your previous roles. Then say while you’ve enjoyed and learn a lot from your previous experience, you realize [Talk about your IB spark here], and that you realize you wanted to pursue IB because [XYZ]. Then say that you’re confident that your [XX] skills can be an invaluable asset to the firm (something around those lines)

If I’m applying for a job based on an online job posting (LinkedIn / other job board), then in my 1st paragraph, ho would you address the section about how you learnt about the job / company ?

(I find it awkward to say that “I recently learnt about your company through your online ad on abc.com”)

ThankX Guys!

I recently learned about your company from [a contact/an event/an online job posting] and was impressed with what I learned of [List what you’re impressed with here]

Hey Nicole,

Thanks for your reply.

I’m finding it awkward to write “I learnt about your company from an online job posting” bcoz I feel it sounds like I did not know them before seeing the posting (which, in turn, sounds insulting for the company).

Instead, can I just say “I recently found out about the XYZ position at ABC Capital & want to apply for this position”?

Sure, this sounds good. No, this isn’t insulting – this is why companies post on job postings! It is best if you have already spoken to people at the company and use that as an intro. line.

please i am an undergraduate in my final year with just one internship experience and one teaching experience, that was before i gained admission. i want to know if it is appropriate to include my date of birth and list of referees; i will also like to know the maximum length of resume ideal for some one in my category. Thanks.

Please see https://mergersandinquisitions.com/free-investment-banking-resume-template/

No, I don’t think you need to include your DOB and list of referees. Maximum length of your resume would be 1 page.

Hi Brian, thanks so much for creating this awesome website.

I’m a year one student in a non-target uni in HK who’s interested in IBD. My first semester GPA wasn’t stellar because I had a hard time balancing family issues and adapting to a new country.

I’m currently applying for several pre-internship programs, and am afraid my less-than-3 GPA will cause my immediate disqualification. What can I do?

I’ve had several leadership positions in high school, am great at networking/socializing, and speak a few languages. But my first semester GPA is lackluster. Please advice, should I explain in my cover letter?

Best Regards, Sara

Yes, your GPA is likely to be alarming to interviewers. Sure, you can explain the above on your cover letter, though I would focus on your strengths and what you have achieved first. You want to draw people to your strengths. I’d also try as hard as you can to boost your GPA next semester and craft a very good explanation when you land interviews.

Hey there M&I,

Firstly, I’d just like to thank you for this template – it truly is priceless.

I’m from Melbourne, Australia and I’d like to break into Investment Banking for a long-term career.

I’m starting a Bachelor of Commerce degree at The University of Melbourne and I was thinking of double majoring in Accounting and Finance.

I feel as though this will put me in a good position for Investment Banking and will also provide me with a few alternatives should I be unable to make it to Investment Banking or decide that it’s not for me.

Sorry about the long-winded explanation, I guess what I want to know is whether or not the double major sequence I have suggested is desirable in Investment Banking or there is a better sequence you could suggest to me.

Also, what do you have to say about people getting summer internships after first year? I haven’t heard of anyone doing this before, but have you? How should I go about trying to increase my chances?

Thanks very much!

Thanks. Yes, that sequence is fine but I don’t know if it would give you an advantage. From what I understand about Australia, I believe most people who get into banking there actually have dual Commerce and Law degrees.

Summer internships after year 1: very tough. You’d have to aim for small local firms. And probably not common in Australia.

I’m applying to a Private Equity internship and I completed the BIWS fundamental and advanced modeling courses. Should I talk about this in my cover letter? Right now I just have a general statement about it and that I worked on some case studies.I was wondering whether I should go more in depth and mention a specific case? Leave it as a general statement? Or take it out completely

Yes, definitely mention the specific case studies as that makes it sound much better than just saying you completed the courses.

Document for listing them on your resume (you may be able to apply parts of this):

http://biws-support.s3.amazonaws.com/BIWS-Courses-Resume-Instructions.docx

Thanks Brian,

I took your advice and mentioned specific case studies.

One other thing, currently in the second paragraph of my cover letter I talk a lot about my internship experience, but this internship doesn’t have to do with IB, its accounting and sales for a hotel. I did spin it in away that says that I picked up skills from this internship that I can apply to IB, PE, etc. Should I focus less about this and more on the BIWS courses, and projects in school I worked on since it doesn’t directly relate?

I would probably do an even split in that case.

I found this guide and template very useful. I was wondering, though, if I were to apply online to bb investment banks that didn’t make any meeting at my university and require a cover letter, what should I write in: “I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.].”

I know about these banks just because of their fame, so should I just skip this part?

Sure though having this line may be more convincing.

I am now applying to Société Générale M&A summer internship in Power, Utilities and Infrastructure department. I tried to find some alumni working there. I could manage to find one via linkedin; however, i cannot contact him because he sets a permission. I wonder what should i write on cover letter if i can’t find a contact in SG?

Dear Sir or Madam / [Name of Recruiter if you have it]

Dear Nicole,

I feel sorry not to explain it clearly.

Quoted from the IB template: ” I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.] ”

I searched SG career website but they mention the work environment and culture very vague. I tried to find an alumni working there; however,the alumni office hasn’t replied me yet.Even worse, SG hasn’t held any campaign event at our uni. At present moment,I can’t manage to get a contact at firm. I did search they have an aggressive expansion plan for the department 2 years ago. Should I mention this instead?

Much thanks

It would help if you have spoken to a contact who is working/worked there or attending one of their info sessions. Otherwise, yes it may be useful to mention of their department’s aggressive expansion plan.

Hi! What if I have not attended any presentation and I do not know nobody that work in a specific bank? Can I still apply online? I am applying to investment banks in London and I know that they recruit using the online application process.

Yes you can still apply online.

Hi Nicole/Brian,

Adding to what Paolo has mentioned, what about the cover letter? Since we do not know anybody that work in that specific bank (nor attend any presentations), who do we address the cover letter to? (Or is it better not to submit one if the cover letter is optional?)

Secondly, is it alright to say that we found out about the job/vacancy by browsing through their website?

Again, thanks for your continuous kind support.

Regards, Rifki

Quoting from the article:

“If you don’t have this information you can just list the company name and address and use a ‘Dear Sir or Madam” greeting.’ ”

If it’s optional, I wouldn’t even bother submitting it especially if you don’t know anyone there. Yes saying you saw it through a website is OK.

Thanks Brian!

I’ve just graduated in Finance and Accounting but wasn’t able to get summer internships in my 2nd year. What else can I write in section 2+3? I’ve got work experience in wholesale, an accounting firm and an insight day at a Merrill Lynch which were just before I started uni, i.e. 2009 can I still use these in this section or would it look bad since they are old?

I’ve taken part in many trading simulation games in teams etc which show all the skills you have mentioned in the paragraph, would it be acceptable to use this as an example even though it was a simulation?

They wouldn’t look bad but not exactly current. Ideal if you have recent experiences to list. Otherwise you can list them

Yes – show the returns you generated

Thanks for the useful resources.

Last year, I hadn’t as much insight and experience with IB (I was coming from law and bearely started to study a MSc-Finance in a good school). I still got two interviews with a nice boutique and a bb. I got reject at the final round.

This year I’m applying again (I’m currently doing an off cycle M&A internship)

1. Shall I mention I applied last year, and why I like the firm so much? or shall I just make a regular cover letter and avoid to mention I applied a year ago?

2. How many interviews should I go through to secure an offer, or what is the average? I’d like to know whether I am doing something bad or just if it is because you need to go through several interviews to finally get something?

3. What would shall I do with the current market if I secure another off cycle internship or a full time M&A position in a leading law firm? (I prefer finance than law, but I m getting old and need to start working as oppose to “intern”)

Sorry for this long thread, thanks for your help.

1. you can mention it if you want though I don’t think its necessary 2. hard to say – depends on you. people generally go through more than several rounds of interviews to land an offer 3. network a lot

Last year, I hadn’t as much insight and experience in IB profiles (I am coming from law and bearely started to study a MSc-Finance in a good school). I still got two interviews with a nice boutique and a bb. I got reject at the final round.

— Shall I mention I applied last year, and why I like the firm so much

Hi, I have an upcoming interview with a bulge bracket bank in Capital Markets. I submitted my resume about 1 month ago and got selected recently. My resume was updated recently and is much much more in depth than before. Should I reach out to the recruiters and ask if I can have them replace the resume on the website with my new one? Or would this be frowned upon? Thanks!

Yes, please do that!

Thank you for your tips, they are great!I have two questions:

1. All templates I find are about experienced people. If you are a person with no experience (or with a very short experience in a different area), how can you turn this fact around and convince someone to hire you? Should you really emphasize your academic background?

2. I started a PhD but early on I realized that it was not the right fit for me. How and where should I mention this? Should I explain why? I am afraid that no one will be considering me for a job position because I am quitting the PhD…

Thank you so much!

1. There are templates for inexperienced hires – pls look for the one for undergraduates. If you have NO work experience at all, I’d suggest you to emphasize your academic background and extracurricular activities. 2. Explain this on your cover letter & interviews. No, it shouldn’t be a problem if you know how to spin your story. Most jobs don’t require a PhD these days anyway.

Hi, Thank you very much for uploading the template.

But what if I don’t have background info or experiences specific to the investment banking industry even though I have banking experience in a different field such as Loan Officer? Will that matter?

I will be considered as a fresher in that case how can I convince anybody about changing my profession to investment banker or wealth management analyst from this profession?

And can you also please help me with a sample C.V for freshers in Invest and Wealth Management.

I do have an MBA in finance.

You’ll have to figure out why IB and pitch your story well.

You can use the same template for Wealth Management – just focus on your research and investment experience

I’m planning to use this short cover letter as my email body. My question : “Should I opt for a longer version with more elaborate details?”

— Dear Sir/ Madam [or the recruiter’s name],

I would like to express my interest in a position as [position] for [company].

As you may perceive from my summary, I’ve been leveraging my consulting and technical skills from my previous career as an IT Consultant to break into the finance industry. Thus, I’m adapt at translating clients’ problems into a satisfying, concrete solution. I also possess good leadership skill and can work well with others. [ + other skills the company valued / demanded for this specific job]

I would love to expand my career with your company, and am confident that I would be a beneficial addition to your company. I have enclosed my resume and I would welcome a personal interview at your earliest convenience.

[Name and contact address] —

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I’d keep your email short, sweet and succinct. Anything longer than that is too much.

Hello, my question is regarding the introduction —

“Paragraph 1: Introduction This is where you explain who you are, where you’re currently working or studying, and how you found the bank that you’re applying to.”

I have nearly 2 years of consulting experience, but have recently been laid off. Since I’m no longer working or studying, how would I approach this as far as introduction?

Just introduce yourself and tell interviewer you’ve been laid off due to the lackluster economy – they should understand. Tell them what you’ve been doing with your free time i.e. traveling, studying, picking up a new hobby, etc. As long as you sound like you are doing something productive/interesting with your life, you should be fine

Errors – If there are minor typos that most people don’t see at a glance, are you in the clear? I’m not sure if people read cover letters that closely especially during OCR when hundreds of people apply at the same time from one school.

It depends on whether your reviewer is attentive to details or not!

I don’t exactly have a stellar GPA, so I was wondering if the cover letter is where I would explain myself? Or is it better to just not mention it? Thanks! And love this website!

It depends why you don’t have a stellar GPA – if you have a legit reason i.e. you had sick parents you needed to take care of etc I think it would help

Thanks for the article. I just had a quick question. I was originally interested in marketing and completed two internships my freshman year undergraduate (currently a junior applying for summer analyst positions). Since then I have had several research internships. Would it be a good idea what lead my decision to go from marketing to banking in my cover letter?

Any input would be awesome. Thanks!

Yes I would explain why you changed your mind in your cover letter and point to a specific person/incident

I am studying at a “frontier market” university and am currently an exchange student at a highly ranked (Top 100) universities.

Should I use an exchange studies university in a cover letter instead of a university where I’ll be graduating and mention it accordingly (I am currently an exchange student at…)?

No, I think you should still use the university where you’ll be graduating

ha frontier market. I am putting where I am an exchange student with the frontier school I attend.

I’m applying for an internship in the US, but I’m studying in Germany. Should I mention that my University/Business School, is one of the best business schools in Germany?

Thank you for your answer!

I don’t think it makes a difference. You could try but reviewers might not necessarily care too much re that

Hi, thanks so much for this article. I am writing a cover letter to J.P. Morgan, but I cannot find the office address in HK, shall I omit it at the top?

But what if I don’t have background info or experiences specific to the investment banking industry? does that automatically rule me out as a candidate even though they specify that finance background is not necessary?

Could I simply emphasize my skills and abilities that I have gained through other experiences such as working for an NGO?

Not necessarily.

just one other quick question. At Goldman Sachs, one could apply for internship in several divisions and they have asked motivation for applying to different divisions. Would it make this impression that you yourself do not know what division is right for you when you make applications for several divisions? Thanks a lot.

With Goldman, yes. However, in a way you still need to hedge your bets because one division’s MD might like you and the other’s MD might not.

I’ve shown my CL to the Head of HR in my firm and he adviced me to write something “catching” as a title between the date and “Dear Sir or Madam,..”. So do you think it would be okay to write there: “Why I am a good fit for taking part in your spring programme”? Or does this sound too arrogant?

Thanks a lot! Jevira

This sounds generic.

Have you got another idea or just put there: Spring Programme at XYZ. :D Thanks, and sorry for the time you lose with all my questions..

Come up w something original he said right? I don’t know if the above is original. You should just ask him what his suggestions are. I’d love to help but I need to think through it and have to look at your CL; wouldn’t be fair to other customers who are paying for our CL editing service.

Thanks very much for your helps. I have a few questions and I would greatly appreciate if you could help me. I am doing a double degree master in Complex Systems Science (A multidisciplinary field), so I have studied one year at Warwick, UK and now I am studying the second year at Ecole Polytechnique, France. 1) Should I mention anywhere that I have had a multidisciplinary approach since in my field I have to interact with people with completely diverse backgrounds, from Physics and math to economics and Philosophy? 2)I have got a full scholarship from European commission for my studies. How should I mention it? 3)I think many people are not very acquainted with the structure of such joint programs between two universities in two different countries. In my CV, shall I mention it as two masters and not saying that they are in fact joint? 4)My master thesis has been about financial contagion and I do not have ant job or internship opportunity, so how should I write the second paragraph?

Thanks in advance and sorry it becomes too long. Mostafa

1. Not sure how you will be wording this one. Difficult to use this to stand out 2. Yes 3. No, put joint but you can separate the two in diff lines 4. Can’t help you on this one.

Hi, it’s me again. Does this template also apply for online applications where you have to upload the cover letter? Or can my personal adress, the banks adress and the date can be removed withous replacement?

Yes these templates apply to online apps too

No, I don’t think you should remove the details you mentioned

I’m a first year university student in the UK, and looking to apply to a spring division internship at Goldman Sachs (and probably many others in the near future).

I have litte actual experience in terms of working for firms, but have competed in many stock market challenges/competitions, and I have come to university a year early, having been moved up a year.

Clearly with my lack of experience, I will need to slightly change the template you have provided above; how would you recommend I do this?

Many thanks.

I nearly asked the same thing – but my question didn’t even appear.

You should elaborate on your stock market challenges/competitions

Is it okay to write under my asset mgmnt firm that I “increased producivity of checking several entries by about 60%”? It was an excelsheet with about 120 rows in which I had to find the entries which were more than once in these rows. (it was an excel formula I made for that).

Or does it sound ridiculous?

Oh, its in the CV, not the cover letter.

yes it does sounds a bit ridiculous and monotonous. Sorry.

So I’ll delete :) Thanks. Its very difficult to boost your CV.

btw: may I send you, Nicole, my CV that you could look over that? You see my email adress, i guess. I’d really appreciate it! Thinking, that it sounds “too” ridiculous…

We’re not offering resume editing at the moment but will be introducing it shortly, so you can watch for that announcement.

What does “shortly” mean? Within this month? And will it be free? If not, how much would it cost? If you’re launching in the very near future, please reserve one place for me :-).

Haha yes but not free. Sure.

Thanks for your work!

My question is that if I apply for some regions where original language is not English i.e. China, Japan, will it be ok I send a 2-page resume/cl with one in English and another Chinese/Japanese/whatever? or seperately in 2 .pdfs?

Thanks again

No. Not necessary. Just send a one-page resume in English

If bilingual required?

No still submit one pager unless they ask

Thanks Nicole.

Another not-related question, do you think that a 4-month full time internship in PE department of commercial banks, say, standard chartered, strong enough to pass the summer/FT online selection? prior to that i had internship in big-4. a senior in university and will pursue a finance master degree right after. thanks

Should do but again it depends on what position you are interviewing for and which division you are looking at. Also depends on who is screening you..However, I believe your experience should suffice

Do you think sending a cover letter with a CV directly to the Head of investment banking dpt is inappropriate? The bank is hiring (according to website). Sent my CV to HR a month ago, no responce.

Sure, just send him a brief email and your resume. No point in sending a cover letter – address what you need to say briefly on the email

What is your opinion about listing client names. Obviously working in a deal situation it would not be acceptable to mention a client name and the transaction itself if this is not public but in my case I have done a lot of work which didn’t result in deals however I am quite keen on mentionning the clients as I have worked with many PE and large Corporate clients. Is it fine to write: “selected list of clients: A,B,C,D,E…

Why would you want to use names there? Just for more credibility when you discuss deals? I would still avoid using names if possible for dead deals. You can still mention that you’ve worked with some big PE names such as X but I wouldn’t go into details; pretend deal is still ongoing even if it died, and leave out the names.

https://mergersandinquisitions.com/why-investment-banking-deals-fail/

You do such a great service for idiots like me!Keep it up.

Hi! For my motivation letter, which the company requires on their application website, shouldn’t I just say I like money and that I want to work for their company because I would like to earn a lot? Or should I go with the “It’s my passion… I like to be challenged… I’d like to contribute innovations for the growth of the business…” bits? Thank you!

applications for bulge brackets. thanks!

Um #2, always

Okay, thanks!

I am beginning to write my cover letter for a number of boutique banks in the fall to apply for analyst positions. What do I if I don’t know anyone at the firm and can’t namedrop a presentation I attended (1st paragraph)? Can I just say

“My name is John Smith, and I am a recent graduate of Fordham University (Class of 2011). I am interested in applying for an analyst position at XYZ firm”

Is there anything else I can add to the first paragraph to flesh out my cover letter a bit? Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

That’s fine

Hi, I recently switched to a major in economics from engineering. The engineering curriculum at my school is very challenging and had a negative impact on my GPA over my freshman/sophomore year (3.4 currently). Would it be appropriate to list that I was previously an engineering major on my resume to reflect the challenging curriculum I was previously engaged in?

Yes that’s a good idea or at least reflect coursework on there

Thanks for the cover letter and resume templates, they’re really helpful. A friend of mine used your templates to score a summer internship in corporate finance advisory at a big four company in london and I was able to score a SA offer in the IBD of a BB firm in frankfurt, germany. we’re both germans btw.

depending on how fulltime recruiting develops we should set something up for a “breaking into IB in europe”-feature if you see the demand for this. So long, Nick

Congrats, interesting to hear that it works in other countries. There are a few articles on Europe (UK, Germany, Italy) already but could use more if you have a unique angle.

A company was recruiting at my college, and all they asked for was for us to send them a 1-page motivational letter? Any idea what I can include in the letter? Eg, why me? Why should I get the offer? Why should I get the bursary? My strengths and weaknesses?

They don’t want a cv, they just want a motivational letter. I’m not too sure what to include in it. Any help would be appreciated.

I would just follow the cover letter template here and expand on it a bit… don’t go into strengths/weaknesses, just follow the outline above.

Thanks Brian for putting up such a nice website and sharing valuable stuff with us aspirers. I might be using a wrong space to look for your suggestions anyways here I go. My challenge here is to make a successful transition from a business development/ strategy side (prior 3 yrs of exp. with a commercial bank) to IB. Being done an MBA recently from a decent B school in UK where I gained the required skill sets for IB, I was targeting at BB which doesnot seems to be working out my way so I m considering the small boutiques as well to start with. I thought a good cover letter can win recruiters attention in my case. Any advice on the approach I should carry to enter into IB & put my prior experience into use to encash it is highly appreciated.

If you do a search for “Networking” and “Cold-calling” you’ll see the most helpful advice – cover letters do not make a difference, focus on your cold-calling and networking skills and do not give up until you try hundreds of places.

is it okay to put stuff on your resume you don’t mention in your cover letter? or should your resume ONLY include stuff from your cover letter?

It’s fine, you can’t even mention everything in the cover letter anyway

In the 3rd paragraph you explained that we should say something along the lines of “I am impressed by your track record of clients and transactions at Goldman Stanley…”

This is obviously a great way to tailor your cover letter, but I was wondering where you find out information of transactions. I’ve found some doing a simple Google search, but is there an independent authority that tracks all of these? As well, how do you know which transactions to mention? The ones that the firm is particularly proud of or ground-breaking?

Use the WSJ Deal Journal or NYT Dealbook to find recent deals they’ve done, anything sizable or significant e.g. the Goldman / Facebook deal

I realized I made a grammatical error in the last paragraph of my cover letter today. I never noticed it before and I’ve sent it to three places already, one BB and two boutiques. Big deal?

No, no one reads cover letters anyway

Firstly thanks for the website, it’s great.

My question is: in most summer IB internships, they ask several cover letter-like questions like “In 250 words max, describe your career aspirations” etc., however there’s usually an option to upload a cover letter as well. Would you advise keeping it concise or would you include examples of IB-related things, adapted to the question, despite the fact you’re effectively rewriting the cover letter?

This is in UK by the way.

Thanks in advance.

Just keep it concise – competency questions are not a big factor vs. CV/interviews.

Thank you for the template.

Quick questions:

Should we use the email format for a doostang message as well?

No keep it way shorter like 2-3 sentences maybe

Dear M&I,

I guess I’m the most complicated case here. I’m currently doing BA in Art History and Italian at UCL, London, now doing my Erasmus in Italy. However, last summer I worked as a M&A Summer Analyst in a small boutique bank specializing in cross-border M&As. There, I started from scratch, with no finance experience/knowledge, but learnt a lot and had lots of hands-on experience, since the company was really small and I was involved in literally everything.

I’m applying for summer internships in large investment banks and about to start writing my cover letters. I assume I must explain myself for studying Art History & Italian and my out-of-the-blue interest in I-Banking, plus use my last summer experience as a selling point. Any other specific hints?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Well, why did you work there? What made you interested in doing that? Reference a specific person or if nothing comes to mind use something from the news or your background e.g. I was always really interested in Italy and the UK and got interested in finance as a result of [xx] so I wanted to explore cross-border M&A and leverage my skills/interests like that.

Hi, I have completed my masters in Drug Discovery and Translational Biology. But currently I am planning to apply for any investment banking positions. As I don’t have any background or experience in the given field, i don’t what to write in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph.

Can you please help me,

Talk about the analytical skills you gained and how they apply, or the leadership / project management skills or anything else like that from previous internships or school.

Hey guys, this letter just repeats what is inside the Resume anyway. What is the additional value for the potential employer to read this kind of resume? There are no additional information. Wouldnt it be better to wite about your motiviation, your personal (not work) background, and reasons to chose this department/bank ? Or would it harm to do this?

Furthermore, the letter includes the information about resume enclosure 3(!) times. I like this site but this template really does not look too promising for me!

So don’t use it? The point is that no one reads cover letters, but in case they do, you don’t want to screw up by saying anything controversial or anything that could be misinterpreted.

If you start writing your personal story, bankers might mistake it for a soap opera script rather than cover letter.

Cover letters have no value at all, but just like grades if you screw one up it could hurt you. This template is intentionally boring and gives very little information because otherwise people would download this and insert pictures of unicorns, write about their past relationships, and other nonsense.

Great comment, made me laugh

Do you recommend being creative in cover letters, ie varying sentence structure, using big/expressive words ?

No, creativity is for marketing or poetry – this is finance.

I’m a US student currently at Oxford for my junior year. All the applications for the UK offices are online. I know you have already answered the question before, but I don’t want to make any mistakes. So just to clarify:

1. Omit the physical addresses, mine as well as theirs. 2. Omit the recruiters name leaving only the name of the bank 3. Omit the signature 4. Do not enclose resume since that is a separate attachment

Thanks so much in advance.

Hie ,i realy luv ur advice!.,Im doing a Bsc in Financial modelling with UNISA.is this a good start for a career in investment banking?.i finish next year, could u tell wat i can do to make myself marketable after graduation.

Honestly, I’m not sure on that one because I’m not familiar with the school. If a lot of banks recruit there, it’s fine; otherwise you should transfer elsewhere.

Its University of SouthAfrica ,im also staying in Africa.is there something i could do 2 giv me an added advantage over my coleagues?.

This article has some tips on South Africa: https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-south-africa/

Hey M&I,

What’s your take on headlines (i.e.Application for IB Analyst) and postscripts? I’ve heard from many friends to add them on because they will grab attention. But then again, they aren’t going into banking.

Thanks, Mack

Not applicable for banking

i will be applying to merrill lynch. In the template, you stated many of the internship and job roles that provide the skills required to be a great investment analyst. However, i was just wondering, if i have a perfect gpa, perfect sats score, how can i use these to my advantage in my cover letter?

You can’t really, just list them and be done with it – no point in trying to emphasize those because there’s not much to say and they speak for themselves.

Hi, If the firm’s online application says “you can only attach one file: this should contain your CV, cover letter and any other materials relevant for the position”, does it mean in the word document file I upload, the 1st page is resume, the 2nd page is cover letter and the 3rd is transcript? It looks pretty strange because the document is gonna be 4-5 pages. But since they only allow me to upload one file, I’m not sure what to do with the cover letter and the transcript. Or can I just omit them and attach the resume document only? Thanks a ton.

I would not send the transcript unless they specifically ask for it, otherwise just create a 2-page file with your cover letter and CV

First of all, great website! It’s really helpful and I think you guys are doing a great job.

I am visually impaired, however I have always followed regular education and have performed like anybody else (also in jobs, at associations, etc). Many banks stress their emphasis on diversity and now I am wondering if I should include this fact in my cover letter / online application? On the one hand I feel it would fit great into the whole “what are you most proud of”-question, but I am also scared it might work against me?

Please note I’m applying London, not NY. (I think European regulations might differ from US-ones). I go to a European target school.

Personally I would not list it on your CV / cover letter / online application, but maybe bring it up in an interview if it fits in naturally.

Hi Brian, I was beginning to start writing coverletters–atleast get them going, but I’m confused on where to find the unique strength of each BB, which makes it diff from its competitions. One of the things which makes a good cover letter is that its specific to a firm, but I dont know how to find such information. For instance, I was looking at MS, Barclays website in the section ,’Why MS’ or ‘Why Barclays’, and it seems every firm had the same agenda. We are committed to diversity , team player etc. Obv I need to go into more depth than this. Brian where I can find information specific to each BB on their website? I would really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

You should read the WSJ Deal Journal blog and look for recent mentions of the bank and what deals they have been advising on – then reference those in the cover letter.

Hi Brian, I’m in a similar position as the above poster. For companies without a personal contact I want to talk about a specific deal they’ve advised on.

I’m just unsure how to formulate such a sentence without encouraging diffcult to answer questions.

E.g. I was thinking of something along the lines of “I was impressed with your company’s role as target advisor in the $X bn acquisition of companyX”

I’m afraid this would result in the question of ‘why were you impressed?’.

Any chance you could give a sample sentence of how you would talk about a deal in a cover letter?

P.S.: Keep up the good work with BIWS, love the constant updates. Highly recommended, well worth the money!

You can say something like “I recently saw news of your role as an advisor in the $X bn acquisition of company X and was immediately interested, since I’ve followed the [X] industry for awhile.”

Hi, I graduated from a target, went to medical school after graduation, but left after two years to pursue a career in investment banking. I now work at a small investment research firm, and I am applying for 2011 analyst class.

How much “explanation” do I need to do in cover letter? Or should I just focus on my job experience and modeling skills?

I don’t think you need much explanation since you quit medicine after 2 years, so just focus on other aspects

Is the physical address at the top still necessary if you’re attaching the cover letter as a .PDF in an online form?

I can’t thank you enough for all these info Brian,

In all honesty, I did have a sudden family death last year for which I had to leave school in the middle of the semester and come back after about two weeks. I got in a lot of psychological stress and uncertainty and I ended up messing up my grades significantly for two semesters. However, I did improve last semester with a full workload (maximum number of credit hours allowed at my school + advanced level classes) and got near 4.0.

How should I mention this on my cover letter? Also, how would I do that on an electronic cover letter which should only be about 4-5 sentences?

Thanks again in advance.

I would just say you had a health issue and had trouble balancing everything, but quickly learned your lesson and received perfect grades right after that. Giving a family excuse sounds fake so I would probably not write that even if it’s true.

Thanks but the thing is that wasn’t my freshman year. It was my sophomore year. So I did well my freshman year than poorly as a sophomore and improved as a junior.

Also, what about the electronic cover letter? Would it be ok to take up some sentences to explain my situation?

Just say you did poorly “at first” and then improved and have perfect grades this past year. I would still keep your cover letter short as no one has time to read a lot.

I would appreciate your advice on this.

I’m a senior at a target school in Far East Asia. It’s really tough to get into a BB here and I’m thinking of visiting each BB and handing them my resume and cover letter to ask for a junior equity research position. I doubt I’d be able to personally meet the head of research or a senior analyst without prior arrangement, so I’d be probably handing my resume and cover letter to HR. I need to stand out but I have no equity research internship experience. What I do have, is a equity S&T internship at a BB and a RA (intern) at a top-tier mgmt. consulting firm. Plus experience managing a personal portfolio and trading derivatives in notable amounts.

Now, my problem is this. I made it to the final round for a junior ER position at GS but unfortunately was not given the offer (the offer ended up going to someone with some full-time experience in ER; had I been competing against fresh-out-of-college candidates would the result have been different?). I would like to mention this in my resume or cover letter hoping that it would serve as evidence that I’m really interested in ER and that I have the potential. But I’m worried that this might send the wrong signal. Who would like to accept a candidate knowing that he was unsuccessful elsewhere? I’m worried that I might appear arrogant in their eyes. I’m thinking of visiting CS, UBS, Citi, MS, ML, JPM, etc. In ER here in Asia, they’re at least at par with GS if not better…

I realize that answer to this may depend on the culture here. Please advise. Thanks.

I would not mention an unsuccessful interview with GS for the reasons you mentioned.

Hi Brian! Long time reader, first time poster. I’m currently a rising senior at a target school on the tale end of my internship at a strong boutique bank in New York. I only have one week left, and I’ve been given zero modeling opportunities. I’m very disappointed. I figure that I should ask for some modeling work. But I have some questions.

1) Does it reflect poorly in interviews for full-time that I didn’t do any modeling? Should I “stretch” the truth?

2) Do you have any other relevant comments about doing a junior year internship and not getting any modeling experience? I’m concerned with how this hurts my full-time credentials, how this might affect my resume, and how overall my standing will decrease relative to my peers because I didn’t get modeling experience.

It’s quite common not to have modeling experience… just say you did research and assisted with potential clients / potential buy-side deals but don’t say anything about modeling. Most people do no modeling in their internships so it doesn’t matter much anyway.

What’s a better part-time fall internship, BB PWM or no-name boutique (I mean no name.. say 3-7 employees)?

Both are about the same, but the boutique is better for your resume because you can write “Investment Banking Analyst”

off-topic question:

I often read though it’s June interviews are still taking place.

When do banks in America/Europe begin accepting applications for: 1) summer interns (analyst) 2) full-time (analyst/associate)

Is the end of a summer intern equivalent to the end of the full-time offer application period? Because ppl. might are offered a full-time offer after their summer intern.

To put it in a nutshell: When is recruting/application time generally?

Summer interns are December/January, full-time is August-September.

And when do you start as summer intern, when u successfully applied in dec/jan or successfully applied for aug/sep?

Summer interns usually start in June

This post reminded me of the classic cover letter to Lehman that was on Leveraged Sellout. I tried to see it, but it appears LSO has shutdown. Is this the case? Are the days of re-reading the same, hilarious stories over?

I don’t know because it’s not my site, but yes it appears to be down. Maybe check the google cache.

Thanks for the release of this article, much appreciated.

Curious on an unrelated question though, when you try to develop relationships with bankers and do the initial outreach to set up an information interview, how far ahead should you plan? I mean should you give them dates within the week you email, 2 weeks ahead, etc?

Also, for specific time slots you ask for, what time is it usually best for a banker to talk to someone about that? Like early morning, late night, right after lunch, etc?

Thanks again, H

Give dates within the next 1.5 weeks so they have a few days to respond. Usually right after lunch is best for bankers, for traders you have to call after market hours are over

Hi Brian, Thanks for the website, I have a quick question for you. I am in one of the new Masters in Finance/Management programs. I am at a target school for undergrad/MBA (think UNC/Duke/UVA). However, since the program is very new, banks don’t know much about it. Aditionally, although I have had some Wealth Management internship experience, I don’t have an I-Banking internship.

Given my situation, do you think it is better for me (in terms of B-school and exit opportunities) to go into a top ten consulting firm (excluding MBB) or try for mid-market/boutique investment banks (My school is very good in placing people in consulting), assuming I don’t get into a BB. I ultimately want to end up in PE or HF (preferably PE).

Thanks for your help.

I would still say banking because consulting –> PE is very tough unless you go for firms like Golden Gate Capital that hire a lot of ex-consultants… and even there they’re mostly from MBB. Much easier to go from smaller bank –> PE than to go from smaller consulting firm –> PE.

Should I mention the fact that my company is in F500? It’s know in Europe, but I doubt it is known in North America.

You can add it in, yes

I don’t have any inside experience about the recruiting process, but a friend/colleague of mine (BB) mentioned that while recruiting for regional european branches/off-cycle internships often look at the cover letter, they almost never do it for summer positions in London.

Everyone seems to have different stories re: cover letters, but they are certainly less important than resumes, networking, or interviews

What about for laterals?

Same template applies but talk about how your previous banking experience applies to the new position you’re applying for

I appreciate your template for its compactness, I understand I shouldnt overestimate the competition, but Im trying to sell myself to the recruiter, so simply mentioning my skills and experience will not differentiate me from the “competitor”…?

I personally dont have so much experience in the finance realm (although Im genuinely interested in it and have managed to get a ten day insight into a BB) so do you encourage mentioning transferable skills I acquired through extra curricular activities, ie football = teamwork, etc, etc…

Cover letters are not really the place to “sell” yourself, which is why this is short… much safer to keep it boring and then do the selling via networking / interviews.

I know this is supposed to be basic, but the first paragraph is pretty useless. Your name, university/job position and contact details will already be on your resume so what’s the point in wasting time and space repeating the details on your cover letter. Also, saying “I am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm” is also somewhat redundant, since the recruiter knows what position you’re applying for.

The template is good as a starting point, but on the off chance someone actually does read your cover letter, I would try to do a lot more than just make redundant statements.

This template is for both email and traditional letters… and in email it’s certainly not redundant. Even with traditional letters you are introducing new information by giving the name of the person you met at their firm as well as your major / where you’re working more specifically.

so do you expect the same stats as what you have written for the resume template? A given population, and a limited percentage will download it, and even a limited percentage will copy it word for word?

Cheers, thanks for all the great info!

In the grand scheme of things, yes – online a lot of people use these templates but most people who apply to banks do not use them.

I’m currently a rising junior at a semi target looking to be a SA next summer. This past summer I interned at a discount brokerage firm but had significant responsibilities (they didn’t have to hire an additional broker because of me) and got a lot of experience and face time with clients.

I have an opportunity to apply for a PWM internship for the fall with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Should I continue with my current internship through the fall or would it look better to move to the more distinguished name? I imagine the work would be similar. thanks

Go to the better name

nice template, it sure will be easier for internationals like me to write one now. thanks.

Thank you for the cover letter template.

“If you’re making the body of your email the cover letter, make it even shorter (4-5 sentences total) and cut out the address bits at the top.”

Do you mean we should drastically cut down the entire 4 paragraph cover letter into 4-5 sentences?

Yes, make it so they don’t have to scroll much (if at all) when reading on a Blackberry. 1-2 sentence intro, 2 sentences on your work experience and how it makes you fit for the job and then 1 sentence conclusion.

A nicely put article! Anyway, I like the new template for the website too!

A question that is unrelated to the article:

How far does an interviewer expect you to know in a previous live deal that you were previously involved in as an INTERN? I mean really, to be fair, often times, even if interns are being put into live deals, they are only doing menial works (including me), such as researching, data mining, presentation slides building, etc.

How far of financial analysis would the interviewer expect you to know?

Also, in terms of financial modeling, you’ve said it before that it is the kind of work that everyone should want to be exposed to. But what if the financial modeling is not for a live deal, but for a potential deal? Would it still look better than the menial works in live deals?

Thank you! You have no idea how helpful you have been.

They expect you to know what you indicate you know… so don’t set expectations very high. And yes any type of modeling work is better than menial tasks

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3 Investment Banking Cover Letter Examples Made in 2024 

• Investment Banking Cover Letter
• Investment Banking Internship Cover Letter
• Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter
• Write Your Investment Banking Cover Letter

Identifying investment opportunities is where you shine. Risk and return profiles are identified, valuations are completed, and acquisitions are performed successfully with you on the job.

But have you invested enough time writing a cover letter that complements your investment banking resume and helps land your next job?

We’ll help you get started with our investment banking cover letter examples . They’ll provide an easy template for success and, when coupled with our AI cover letter generator, will ensure you stand out in this results-driven field.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Block Format

Copy this text for your investment banking cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue New Orleans, LA 70112 (123) 456-7890

October 01, 2023

Ethan Davis Capital One Securities 123 Fictional Lane New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Mr. Davis:

As a fervent believer in the power of data-driven decision making in my professional career and personal investment endeavors, I spend my evenings studying financial market trends and identifying potential opportunities when I’m not engrossed in aiding clients in reaching their financial goals. Pairing my passion for finance with my keen understanding of various industry nuances, I am excited to join Capital One Securities as an investment banking associate.

During my tenure at UBS, I honed my expertise in data analysis, using advanced tools like Python and Excel to sort through vast amounts of information. I successfully identified vital investment opportunities that contributed to the growth and diversification of portfolios, thereby increasing the company’s average annual return on investment by 8.2%.

As a financial analyst at Valmiki 504, also based in New Orleans, I dove headfirst into financial statement analysis, scrutinizing balance sheets, cash flow, and income statements. Consequently, my analysis contributed to improvements in client portfolio performance, with a 6.7% increase in average annual returns.

Being involved in numerous Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) deals as part of the strategic financial advisory team at Dorsey & Company, I implemented a systematic approach to risk analysis and valuations. My prowess in executing due diligence and navigating financial models was instrumental in securing successful deals for the advisors. Our team collectively increased completed M&A transactions by 9.4% during my time there, benefiting clients through synergistic growth.

I am eager to leverage my enthusiasm and skillset to augment Capital One Securities’ position at the forefront of the financial sector. I look forward to discussing how my expertise can contribute to the growth and continued success of Capital One Securities and its client base. Thank you.

Liam Andersen

Enclosures: Resume Application Academic Transcript

Why this cover letter works

• Follow this with a compelling narrative of relevant work experiences , backing up impacts made in previous workplaces using numbers, percentages, and revenues. Skills such as data analysis, financial statement and risk analysis, and software Python and Excel should suffice in your piece.

Level up your cover letter game

Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Investment Banking Internship Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your investment banking internship to your cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue New York City, NY 10001 (123) 456-7890

Liam Harris JPMorgan Chase & Co. 123 Fictional Lane New York City, NY 10001

Dear Mr. Harris:

Influenced by the allure of the world of finance and its complex interplay of numbers, I spend my leisure hours tracking global economic indicators when I’m not thoroughly engrossed in my academic pursuit of finance. This fascination for finance and my keen interest in building personalized investment portfolios ignited my enthusiasm to be part of JPMorgan Chase & Co. as an investment banking valuation intern.

During my time at New York University, I honed my skills in Python to analyze complex financial datasets, proving instrumental to our team’s success in the annual Love Data Week competition. The models I developed contributed to us outperforming 52+ teams and winning by a margin of 3.2%.

As a research Intern at the NYU Stern School of Business, utilizing tools like Bloomberg Terminal and FactSet, I completed a research project on the impact of modern trade wars on international markets. The efforts culminated in a published paper that was well-received in academia.

Additionally, my coursework in statistical analysis spurred my interest in predicting financial trends. By employing these skills, I earned the second spot in the college’s annual forecast challenge, predicting S&P 500 performance with an accuracy level of 92.3%.

The idea of playing an indispensable part at the trailblazing vanguard of the finance industry exhilarates me to no end. I look forward to discussing my qualifications in detail at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

Zara Jafari

• Of course, the majority of your piece will focus on academic accomplishments. But don’t just highlight your technical know-how. Briefly narrate instances where you translated classroom knowledge into tangible impact during class projects, competitions, simulations, and possibly an internship or volunteer program.

Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your investment banking analyst cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Memphis, TN 38101 (123) 456-7890

Ava Wilson First Horizon National Corporation 123 Fictional Lane Memphis, TN 38101

Dear Ms. Wilson:

Responding to First Horizon National Corporation’s compelling belief that creating new horizons is critical to client success, I am eager to join your dynamic team of innovators as your next investment banking analyst. Firmly believing in the heightened potential that emerges when diverse insights merge and align toward a shared financial goal, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your team of skilled analysts and finance experts.

One of my skills, Comparable Company Analysis (CCA), helped me carve a significant niche at Raymond James. By applying such in-depth analyses, I was able to implement strategies that led to an annual yield increase of 7.3% for our locally focused portfolios, demonstrating the power of well-applied industry knowledge. Moreover, proficiency in pitch book preparation has augmented my communicative prowess, allowing me to clearly convey complex financial narratives. This proficiency manifested in more than just words, driving a 16.4% growth in local investments by effectively showcasing our value propositions to Memphis clients.

My firm grasp of capital structure analysis further complements these core competencies. Using Bloomberg Terminal and FactSet, I dissected intricate financial data at NewSouth Capital Management, which eventually reduced client portfolios’ cost of capital by 14.7%.

As seen from my history of aiding Memphis-based organizations like Bluff City Coffee & Bakery and Medtronic, I am committed to building solid relationships and paving ways for clients to reach their long-term financial objectives seamlessly.

Inspired and motivated by First Horizon’s dedication to guiding its clients toward fruitful opportunities, I look forward to contributing to your mission. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing how my experiences and skills could further bolster the growth of First Horizon National Corporation.

Nina Petrovic

• Go ahead and show off your professional arsenal (cue comparable company analysis, pitch book preparation, or capital structure analysis). Weaving in quantifiable wins, like an annual yield increase of 7.3%, anchors your credibility.

Related cover letter examples

• Investment banking resume
• Financial analyst
• Bank teller
• Account manager

How to Format Investment Banking Cover Letter

When optimizing a client’s investment portfolio, you always ensure you account for their specific needs and financial situation to get them the best results. Take a similar approach to your investment banking cover letter. 

The job description will help you succeed here. It’ll outline the company’s mission and the top investment banking skills they’re looking for so you can include them in your cover letter to stand out.

For instance, you could explain how you’ll use your negotiation skills to help an automotive company continue expanding its market while achieving its goal of bringing fair vehicle prices to consumers.

Investment banking cover letter introduction

When meeting a client for the first time, you’d want to learn their name to instantly create a connection. You should do the same in your investment banking cover letter by trying to address a specific hiring manager by name, if you can find it in the job description or the company website.

Then, once you get into the opening paragraph, grab attention by referencing your passion for the company’s mission and the top skills they’re looking for, like financial modeling or using the Bloomberg Suite.

The example below will show you a cover letter that gets off to a good start but falls short when they don’t get into any specifics about the company’s investment banking needs.

Needs more details!

Dear Ms. Tyson,

I was pleased to see the investment banking opportunity your company has available. With my seven years of experience in the financial field, I believe I’ll be the right fit for your company’s needs.

An opener like the one below is a better option that relates directly to the applicant’s enthusiasm for First Horizon National Corporation’s dynamic and innovative investment banking team. 

A compelling and detailed opener!

Dear Ms. Wilson,

Investment banking cover letter body

Data is a crucial part of the decisions you make as an investment banker. It’s also pretty important to help you write a successful cover letter.

One of the best ways to optimize your body paragraphs is by sharing examples using metrics. For instance, you could explain how you used your market forecasting skills to help a portfolio of 125 clients grow their earnings by an average of 34% annually.

If you don’t have much work experience , you could also write about how your education in finance, accounting, or other related fields has equipped you for the role. For example, you could talk about how you analyzed statements of cash flows with 98% accuracy during your managerial accounting course.

A great body paragraph with data-driven performance!

Investment banking cover letter closing

After you wrap up a meeting with a client, you’d want to relate back to what you covered to ensure they’re up to speed on the next steps you’ll take when optimizing their investment portfolio. You should do the same with the closing of your cover letter by relating back to the essential job skills you emphasized, like private equity and market analysis, and how you connect with the company’s mission.

It’s also best practice to thank the hiring manager for their time and close with a light call to action like “I look forward to discussing the needs of this investment banking position with you further.”

The closer below doesn’t quite hit the mark since it’s missing the call to action or any specific details about the investment banking role.

Lacking impact with this one!

I believe my skills and experience will be of great value to your company’s growing investment banking needs. Thank you for taking the time to review my application.

Isaac Martens

A better closer is the one below that directly relates to Capital One Securities’ goal to grow in the financial sector and help its client base succeed. 

An impactful closer relating to the company’s mission! 

I am eager to leverage my enthusiasm and skillset to augment Capital One Securities’ position at the forefront of the financial sector. I look forward to discussing how my expertise can contribute to the growth and continued success of Capital One Securities and its client base. Thank you.

Sincerely, 

One page is the optimal length for investment banking cover letters. If you’re struggling to shorten it, try to focus on the primary needs of each job. For instance, if you’re applying to a commercial investment banking role, your M&A and equity research abilities may be essential to emphasize. 

Your investment banking cover letter should be customized for each job. It’ll help you stand out when applying to one company that works with high-yield bonds and another that specializes in structured financial management so you can present relevant skills for both. 

The best way to make job skills stand out is to include relevant ones to each company’s needs and share metrics-based examples of how you used them successfully in previous jobs. For instance, you could explain how you used S&P Capital IQ to help companies utilize their assets 54% more efficiently. 

Bank Teller Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2024

• Cover Letter Examples

How To Write a Bank Teller Cover Letter

• Cover Letter Text Examples

Your bank teller cover letter should demonstrate your ability to provide exceptional customer service and help grow the bank’s reputation through positive daily interactions. This guide provides examples and expert insights to help capture the most compelling aspects of your experience within the banking industry and land your next interview.

Bank Teller Cover Letter Templates and Examples

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

To write a stand-out bank teller cover letter, you need to transform your everyday job duties into powerful achievements. While not all of your responsibilities can be backed by hard numbers, it’s possible to make even the most mundane duty sound more proactive using the right language. Focus on demonstrating how your positive interactions with customers have contributed to your branch’s overall success. Below, we’ll provide guidance for each section of the bank teller cover letter:

1. Contact information and salutation

List all essential contact information in the header of your bank teller cover letter, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. Doing so adds a personal touch to your cover letter and shows you’re truly interested in the position. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”

2. Introduction

Open your bank teller cover letter with a strong introduction to peak the hiring manager’s interest. Feature your years of experience within the banking industry and key qualifications the bank is looking for in a teller. Close your opening paragraph with one of your most notable accomplishments to immediately show you can create value for potential employers. For example, you might mention a high customer service rating or sales quota attainment.

I would like to apply for the bank teller position with TD Bank that I found on Indeed. As you can see from my resume, I have over six years of customer service experience at notable banking institutions. Throughout my career, I’ve exceeded sales quotas by 25% to 50% month over month. My expertise in cross-selling would be a strong asset to your organization.

3. Body paragraphs

In the body paragraphs of your bank teller cover letter, provide an overview of your banking career. Start by highlighting details about the bank’s reputation or culture and why you’re interested in the role. Feature accomplishments that demonstrate your customer service, sales, and interpersonal skills, as these are essential for delivering a positive customer experience. Pay close attention to the job description when writing your body paragraphs, as it’s important to tailor your content toward the bank you’re targeting.

Wells Fargo’s reputation for delivering an exceptional customer experience strongly aligns with my professional background. During my time with PNC Bank, I communicated with a diverse range of customers to understand their unique banking needs and recommend ideal products. I can help your bank continue to grow its reputation as a customer-first organization based on my previous achievements:

• Interfaced with bank customers to identify banking needs, recommend financial solutions, and identify ideal products to achieve client goals, resulting in a 94% customer satisfaction score
• Managed customer requests quickly and efficiently, including cashing checks and money orders, depositing and withdrawing cash, checking account balances, and providing account information
• Cross-sold products using advanced knowledge of bank practices, accounts, credit cards, and personal loans

4. Bank teller skills and qualifications

Although you’ve already captured most of your professional skills on the resume, it’s best to still reinforce key terms from the job description in your bank teller cover letter. This is an opportunity to further highlight your knowledge of banking terminology and customer service best practices using tangible examples from your career. Below, we’ve compiled a list of common skills you may encounter while pursuing bank teller positions:

5. Closing section

The last paragraph of your bank teller cover letter should include a call to action. Invite the hiring manager to schedule an interview or contact you for additional information on your background. Also, further demonstrate how your background within the banking industry can benefit their clients and team. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence.

I hope to schedule an interview to provide more insights into how my cross-selling expertise can help drive sales for TD Bank. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Meera Patel

Bank Teller Cover Letter Tips

1. emphasize your customer service experience.

As a front-line team member, hiring managers want to see you have the customer service skills to help grow the bank’s positive image and reputation. Every daily interaction plays a small but important role in this, so it’s important to showcase this aspect of your experience using tangible examples from your career. One way you can achieve this is by highlighting your customer service metrics or awards you’ve received for exceeding performance goals. You could also emphasize your ability to connect with banking customers and identify ideal solutions for their needs.

2. Showcase your knowledge of the banking industry

When building your cover letter, emphasize your understanding of banking terminology, services, and products. For example, you might mention you educated clients on potential types of personal loans based on their financial goals and referred them to appropriate specialists. Although you won’t be handling loan consultations yourself, having this extra layer of knowledge might give you an edge over other applicants during the job search.

3. Quantify your bank teller achievements

Incorporating performance metrics and hard numbers can greatly enhance the impact of your accomplishments. Focus on featuring data that demonstrates your expertise in customer service and sales. In the example below, the candidate highlights their proven track record exceeding sales quotas and achieving high customer satisfaction ratings:

• Supported banking clients with unique needs, recommended banking products based on personal financial goals, and exceeded annual sales quota by up to 50%
• Provide suggestions to clients to deliver ideal banking products, including bank accounts and investment accounts
• Communicated empathetically with bank customers, identified conflict resolutions, ensured positive interactions, and achieved customer satisfaction ratings of 90% to 93%

Bank Teller Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples

Anthony Gentile Bank Teller | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY | LinkedIn

January 1, 2024

Caleb Morris Hiring Manager Wells Fargo (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Mr. Morris:

I’m reaching out in regard to the bank teller position at Wells Fargo. With over three years of experience within the banking industry, I’ve cultivated an expertise in both customer service and sales. In 2023, I achieved a 94% customer satisfaction rating on surveys. I am confident I can achieve similar results for your company in the bank teller role.

• Cross-sold products using advanced knowledge of bank practices, accounts, and personal loans

I look forward to telling you more about how my customer service experience within the banking industry could benefit your customers and team. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Anthony Gentile

Meeta Patel Bank Teller | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Detroit, MI 12345 | LinkedIn

Lori Taylor Hiring Manager TD Bank (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Ms. Taylor:

TD Bank’s reputation for diversity and inclusion is what draws me to apply for this position. As a banking professional, I believe a forward-thinking culture is essential for delivering exceptional customer service. I can exceed both sales and customer satisfaction goals for your company based on my career achievements:

Raheem Richardson Bank Teller | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Philadelphia, PA 12345 | LinkedIn

Amy Smith Hiring Manager Chase Bank (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Ms. Smith:

I’m reaching out to apply for the bank teller position with Chase Bank. During my time with Wells Fargo, I received three awards for exceeding goals in both sales and customer service delivery. I am confident that my knowledge and experience within the banking industry will allow me to drive positive results for your company.

Chase Bank’s reputation for trust, integrity, and ethical banking practices is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. Throughout my career, I’ve successfully exceeded sales goals while promoting products that are in the best interest of the customer’s long-term financial goals. I can provide valuable contributions to your organization based on my previous successes:

I look forward to speaking with you further regarding how my expertise in sales and customer service could be a strong asset to your team. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Raheem Richardson

Bank Teller Cover Letter FAQs

Why should i include a bank teller cover letter -.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , bank teller positions are expected to decline by 15% over the next decade. With a lower number of opportunities available on the open market, submitting a cover letter can help differentiate you from the competition during the job search. This allows you to convey your genuine enthusiasm and say something specific about why the bank’s reputation fuels your interest in joining their team.

How long should my bank teller cover letter be? -

It’s generally best to keep your cover letter concise during the application process. Limit your document to three or four paragraphs, with an emphasis on your most notable contributions and achievements. Including too much information may cause the hiring manager to lose interest, so always opt for a more straightforward approach.

Should I use artificial intelligence to write my cover letter? -

While it may be acceptable to use an artificial intelligence (AI) tool such as ChatGPT to get you started, relying on a machine learning algorithm to write your cover letter is the wrong approach. The purpose of this document is to provide a strong introduction that emphasizes unique insights into who you are as a professional. AI will never be able to capture these aspects the way you can.

Craft a new cover letter in minutes

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Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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Banker Cover Letter Examples

Use these Banker cover letter examples to help you write a powerful cover letter that will separate you from the competition.

Bankers are responsible for lending money to businesses and individuals. They also work with customers to develop financial plans and investment strategies.

To get a job as a banker, you need to have a strong understanding of financial concepts and a passion for helping people reach their financial goals.

Use these examples to write a banker cover letter that stands out from the competition.

Formal/Professional Writing Style Example

With a strong background in finance and a proven track record of successfully managing financial operations, I believe my skills and passion make me the ideal candidate for this role.

I possess a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from XYZ University and have gained over five years of experience in the banking industry, with a focus on financial analysis, risk management, and regulatory compliance. My previous roles as a Financial Analyst and Assistant Controller have prepared me well for the challenges of this position, enabling me to develop competencies such as forecasting, cost reduction, and strategic planning. In my most recent role, I was responsible for managing a team of seven, where I implemented measures that resulted in a cost reduction of 15% and led the successful completion of the annual audit process in collaboration with external auditors.

As a highly organized and detail-oriented individual, I excel at performing complex financial analysis and identifying trends to inform data-driven decision-making. My strong communication skills ensure that I am able to effectively communicate financial insights to stakeholders at all levels of the organization, leading to improved understanding of key performance metrics.

By joining your company, I am excited to contribute my skills and experience to meet and exceed the expectations set for this role. I am highly motivated to contribute to the financial success of your organization and am confident that my dedication to upholding the highest financial standards will make me a valuable asset to your team.

Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to discuss my qualifications further and learn more about the opportunities for professional growth within your organization. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

[Your Name]

Entry-Level Writing Style Example

As a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of State, I am eager to begin my career in banking and believe this position at [Bank Name] is a perfect opportunity for me to utilize and expand upon my skills and knowledge.

My educational background has provided me with a strong foundation in finance, accounting, and risk management. Specifically, coursework in financial management, investments, and financial markets has prepared me for analyzing and interpreting financial data. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to participate in an internship with a local financial institution, where I gained valuable experience in customer service and relationship building. This experience has equipped me with the skills to handle customer inquiries, process transactions, and identify the best banking products and services to meet their needs.

I am particularly drawn to [Bank Name] because of your commitment to providing exceptional customer service and your dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. I believe these values closely align with my own personal and professional goals, and I am confident I can contribute positively to [Bank Name’s] overall success.

I would be thrilled to be given the opportunity to contribute my skills and enthusiasm to your team at [Bank Name]. I have attached my resume and would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further in an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Networking/Referral Writing Style Example

I was thrilled to learn about this opportunity through my colleague and friend, Mr. John Doe, who has been working with your team for the past three years as an Investment Analyst. John has always spoken highly of the dynamic work culture and growth opportunities at your bank, and I believe my experience and skills would make me a perfect candidate for this role.

As an individual with over five years of experience working in the banking sector, I have a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of banking services, including account management, credit analysis, and customer service. I am confident that my ability to communicate effectively with diverse clients, my strong analytical skills, and my drive to provide exceptional customer service will position me for success in this role.

Being referred to your organization by John, who has firsthand knowledge of my work ethics and professional accomplishments, underscores the belief that I have the skills and drive necessary to make a significant contribution to your team.

I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of your esteemed organization and contribute to its growth and success. Please find my resume attached for your review. I would welcome the chance to further discuss my qualifications and how I can add value to your team.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you further.

Enthusiastic/Passionate Writing Style Example

Having admired [Bank Name] for a long time, I am inspired by the innovation, dedication to customer service, and strong commitment to fostering financial inclusion that your institution consistently showcases. I am confident that my skills and eagerness to contribute to your team make me the ideal candidate for this role.

During my time at [Previous Company], I demonstrated my passion for banking by consistently exceeding sales targets, fostering relationships with clients, and actively participating in community outreach programs. I believe these experiences have equipped me with the perfect blend of sales, analytical, and interpersonal skills to excel in this role.

One particular achievement that stands out is my successful implementation of a comprehensive financial literacy program, which not only increased our brand awareness but also empowered numerous individuals to make better financial decisions. I am eager to apply this same dedication and innovative mindset to the Banker role at [Bank Name]. I am certain that my contagious enthusiasm for assisting clients in reaching their financial goals will make me an invaluable addition to your team.

Furthermore, I am dedicated to continually enhancing my banking acumen by staying informed about the latest industry trends, attending relevant workshops, and pursuing new certifications. I am confident in my ability to not only adeptly fulfill the responsibilities of the Banker position but also consistently go above and beyond for the benefit of both [Bank Name] and its clients.

Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the opportunity to join your esteemed organization and embark on a successful banking career with [Bank Name]. I look forward to the chance to further discuss my qualifications and passion with you during an interview.

Problem-Solving Writing Style Example

Having thoroughly researched your bank’s impressive growth and dedication to customer satisfaction, I have identified two central challenges that I believe my background and expertise can help address: bolstering customer loyalty and adapting to the ever-evolving financial technology landscape.

Firstly, I understand that establishing and maintaining strong relationships with clients is key to customer loyalty and long-term business success. With over six years of experience in the banking sector, I have honed my skills in understanding clients’ financial needs and goals, creating tailor-made solutions and fostering trust through excellent communication and prompt service. My ability to combine in-depth market analysis with a client-centric approach will help your bank not only boost customer satisfaction but also maximize opportunities for financial growth, ultimately reinforcing customer loyalty.

Secondly, to stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry, banks need to adapt to fintech innovations, streamline processes and provide digital products that cater to the changing needs and preferences of customers. In my previous role at XYZ Bank, I was responsible for integrating new technology solutions into our branch offerings, leading to a 20% increase in customer adoption of digital services. My experience in implementing cutting-edge solutions and facilitating training to ensure a smooth transition for staff and customers alike will prove invaluable in your bank’s continuous pursuit of digital excellence.

In summary, I believe my client-focused approach, financial expertise, and experience in digital transformation will make me a valuable addition to your team. I am eager to contribute to your bank’s ongoing success and further enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my candidacy further.

[Your name]

Storytelling/Narrative Writing Style Example

Growing up, I had always harbored a deep fascination for numbers and financial matters. This passion, combined with my desire to help others, led me to pursue a career in banking. Let me share with you a story that I believe perfectly encapsulates my dedication to this field.

A few years ago, I found myself in a difficult financial situation. A close friend approached me for help with her struggling small business. With my background in finance and my strong analytical skills, I was confident that I could assist her in turning her business around. I eagerly took up the challenge, putting my knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and cost-cutting techniques to work.

As we delved into the business, I identified several areas where improvements could be made. We negotiated better terms with suppliers, streamlined operations, and implemented a comprehensive financial plan. I even took the initiative to educate my friend on the importance of financial literacy and effective money management, empowering her to make better decisions in the future.

Fast forward a year, and her once-struggling business had become a thriving, profitable venture. The satisfaction of helping someone in need and the joy of witnessing their success fueled my passion for the banking industry even more.

This experience has taught me the power of effective financial management and the profound impact it can have on people’s lives. I am eager to bring my skills, dedication, and passion for helping others to your organization as a Banker.

Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and am confident that my background in financial management and commitment to customer service make me an excellent candidate for the role. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my qualifications further.

Cyber Security Analyst Cover Letter Examples

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The cover letter that will get you a job in a bank

Do you really need to write a cover letter when you're applying for a job in an investment bank? These days, it's surely all about the skills in your CV - who's got the time to read that extra blurb saying how perfect you are for the role?

Recruiters working with experienced hires certaintly don't have the time. Most of the banking recruiters we speak to treat the cover letters (or 'cover emails') they receive from experienced candidates as an irrelevance. "For experienced roles, we rarely look at cover letters," says the CEO of one London-based financial services recruitment firm. I just go for the CV," agrees another. "I look at the CV and then I phone them. - If the CV is relevant, I'll get everything that would have been in the cover letter from that call." 

This doesn't mean you should just attach a CV/resume with no introductory email. It does mean that the introductory email might not be read - but you still need to make sure you don't make common mistakes like referencing the wrong bank, or forgetting to attach your CV altogether.

However, there some situations in which cover letters can make all the difference.  

These include:

• When you're applying for graduate jobs in banking.
• When you're applying to banks directly (without going through external recruiters),
• And... when you happen to be using a recruiter who simply likes cover letters (hard to tell!).

"For graduate hires, cover letters are very important," says one headhunter. Just how important is reflected by the fact that some banks specify them as a must-have in the ir graduate recruitment process .   Banks like Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Barclays, Morgan Stanley and Macquarie typically all demand that their would-be analysts in Europe write cover letters or something very similar, says Victoria McLean, a former Goldman Sachs recruiter and founder of banking CV specialists, City CV.   "Some banks still ask for specific questions to be answered around motivation, strengths and key behaviours/competencies (these are of varying word counts depending on the bank)," she says.

Goldman Sachs historically demanded that recruits write a 300 word personal statement as a cover letter. A former recruiter at the firm told us it was  very important. "Some students were excellent until they got to the cover letter," - those 300 words let them down.

What makes a good banking cover letter? Mai Le, a former Goldman Sachs investment banking associate who ran  CoverLetterLibrary , a community which houses a collection of cover letters that have enabled juniors to get jobs at banks in the past. Le says the best cover letters have two things in common: narrative structure (they emphasize your story and show the choices that brought you here) and facts and figures that underscore your background and achievements. By comparison, Le says the worst banking cover letters suffer from key-word stuffing, irrelevant information and spelling and grammatical mistakes.

It can help to follow a general template... 

You need to tailor your cover letters for each job you apply to. But this doesn't mean that you can't write a cover letter that follows a template. It does mean that each time you apply for a new job, you will need to fill in the template all over again.

McLean suggests your template follows the following format: Introduction. Why me? Why you? Why this job? In total, the text within the template should be no more than 750 words, or one A4 page, long. Le says some candidates also use a format that's ordered as, Why this job? Why this bank? Why me?  "It's a matter of personal preference," she says. Ultimately, you want all these elements in the cover letter and should go with which ever you feel comfortable with.

Either way, here's what to include.

The easy introductory paragraph

The first paragraph is all about explaining why you're writing. If you're applying for a graduate job in a bank, keep it short and sweet.

"The first paragraph is just to say who you are and why you're writing the letter," says McLean.

This paragraph might read something like. "I am an X with X year history of X at global banking firms including X as well as X. I have been working for X for the past X years."

If you're writing a Goldman Sachs cover letter that's 300 words or less, you can ditch this style of opening paragraph. - There's just no space for it.

If you're writing to a recruiter, there's less need to be quite so brief with your introduction. Say who you are, and explain why you've approached that recruiter in particular: "If someone says they've been referred to me by someone I know and respect, I will sit up and pay attention," says one U.S. recruiter. "The same applies if they say they've learned that I mentor women and that this is something they're interested in too."

In other words, when you're writing a cover letter to a recruiter, you need to know who you're writing to. Use this introductory paragraph to address them in person. Flattery will get you everywhere.

The selling yourself paragraph. 'Why you?'

The second paragraph is usually harder. This is where you need to start selling yourself, expressing your personality, and explaining why you're such a hot catch. It's here that you can add in some of the narrative explaining how you came to apply for this role, plus some of the substantiating figures that Le says make successful cover letters so effective.  Don't  use bland and empty phrases like, "I am a determined, motivated person." Do look at the key words and skills used to describe the job you're applying for and (without too obviously reiterating the ad) explain how you match them. Focus on the results and on  outcomes you've achieved in similar situations in the past.  You need to be specific and you need to bring yourself to life.

If you're writing a cover letter to accompany a graduate application, McLean says you can use the second paragraph to talk about what you've studied and how it's relevant. If you've studied finance and know how to do a DCF, now's the time to mention that. If you haven't studied finance but have good relationship management skills and you want to work i n M&A (a relationship-focused business), say that here. Provide EVIDENCE for the skills you're claiming to have.- List any awards you've won. Never, ever, make empty statements. "Many successful trading cover letters feature the candidate's trading return profile and their rationales for their success or failure," says Le. " - Cover letters for sales positions highlight the candidate's track record that evident their ability as a natural salesperson."

The motivational paragraph. 'Why this job (in this sector?)'

If you're an experienced hire applying through a recruiter or applying directly to a bank, this is where you explain why you want the job you're applying for. If you're a student applying for a first job, this is why you need to explain why you want this job and why you want to work in this sector. Be specific -  you'll need to know about the job and the sector before you start this section.

As a student, you'll need to link your skills back to your motivation for working in that area of banking above others, says McLean. Why M&A? Why not sales and trading? Why not compliance?  - If you want to work in operations , for example, explain how you have a passion for building systems and improving efficiency, as evidenced by your system for serving customers in your weekend job...

"You should include what you love about the industry to which you are applying," says McLean. "Why is it important to YOU? Why does it matter to YOU? How does it make a difference to YOU? and why is it interesting to YOU? Especially valid for Graduates: Why finance? Why investment banking / asset management?  before addressing the specifics of the division or programme to which you are applying. The key is to make this personal…. This is where most grads go wrong in their cover letters, they sound too generic and impersonal."

The connection paragraph. 'Why this bank ?'

The fourth paragraph is all about explaining why you want to work for that particular bank. Again, you need to be specific. McLean says graduates often copy and paste from banks' own websites. For example, it's not unheard of for them to write, "I want to work for Goldman Sachs because you have 170 locations across 90 cities in over 30 countries."  This will get you nowhere.

"The idea is not to flatter your potential employer but to identify what makes them a good choice for you and you a good fit," says McLean. "Telling Goldman or Citi you want to work for them because they are the best is not going to impress anyone. However, writing that it’s an opportunity to work with some of the best minds on the street and that you want to be held to those same exacting standards is a bit more engaging." But you need to put this in your own words: you need to make it personal and say what the banks strengths mean to YOU.

The other ex-Goldman Sachs recruiter we spoke to said she particularly looked for, "creativity and effort and writing about Goldman Sachs," when running through students' cover letters. People were expected to say exactly why they wanted to work for Goldman rather than, say, J.P. Morgan.

Instead of just reiterating what you've read on banks' websites, therefore, you need to cite some unusual reasons for choosing that bank that will make you stand out. If you're a student, it helps to say that you've met some of the banks' staff and were impressed by them.  Citigroup, for example, suggests that  student cover letters  reference encounters with the bank's staff at recruitment events. - Make a note of the staff you meet and explain what they said or did that impressed you, and what made you think you'd like to work with them.

Mark Hatz, a former M&A associate at Goldman Sachs and Perella Weinberg Partners who now helps people get jobs in banking , says stressing your rapport with people you've met from the firm is particularly important when you're applying for a job in M&A or capital markets: "These are advisory businesses and they want to see that you can build a rapport and work in a team. If you get the job, you'll also be spending a lot of hours in the office with these people, so showing you like them is very important."

It also helps to reference the bank's strategy, to mention any awards the bank won, and to cite any conversations you've had with or comments you've read from other industry professionals and analysts who've given concrete reasons why it's good place to work. Everything in this section needs to be positive. - You need to explain why you want to work for Deutsche Bank specifically without writing anything that denigrates its rivals. The more senior you are, the more you will need to reference solid strategy points at this stage.

"Show a grasp of where they are going, what the plan is and why this appeals to you," says McLean. Show that you know their strategy and that you agree with the way they're addressing challenges. "You should also write about the future of the firm. You should be planning to be there for a few years and hoping to share that future with them," McLean adds. Look at the shareholder letter in the last annual report for information on a bank's strategy.

The call to action

Finally, you need to end the cover letter with a call to action. McLean suggests completing the letter with the following sentence: "I really look forward to hearing from you. I am available for interview and contactable by X.'

Simple. Except all of this has to be written in 750 words - or just 300 if you're a student applying to Goldman Sachs. It's not so easy after all.

Click here to create a profile on eFinancialCareers. Make yourself visible to recruiters hiring for top jobs in technology and finance. 

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Investment Banking Cover Letter Template

Free cover letter template to help you break into Investment Banking (IB)

Mr. Arora is an experienced private equity investment professional, with experience working across multiple markets. Rohan has a focus in particular on consumer and business services transactions and operational growth. Rohan has also worked at Evercore, where he also spent time in private equity advisory.

Rohan holds a BA (Hons., Scholar) in Economics and Management from Oxford University.

Chris currently works as an investment associate with Ascension Ventures, a strategic healthcare venture fund that invests on behalf of thirteen of the nation's leading health systems with $88 billion in combined operating revenue. Previously, Chris served as an investment analyst with New Holland Capital, a hedge fund-of-funds  asset management  firm with $20 billion under management, and as an investment banking analyst in  SunTrust Robinson Humphrey 's Financial Sponsor Group.

Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and earned a Master of Finance (MSF) from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis.

• Investment Banking Cover Letter Template: Advice From The WSO Community

Why Do Cover Letters Matter?

• Less Is More For Cover Letters

The Hail Mary Cover Letter

• WSO Cover Letter Template

Attached at the bottom of this post is the FREE investment banking cover letter template that is sometimes used for WSO cover letter review clients.

We have decided to make it free to help those of you that can't afford a more tailored service .

This cover letter template uses bullets to keep the points succinct and format easy to read .

You'll also notice that the header matches the WSO  investment banking resume template format.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template: Advice from the WSO Community

Here's what you need to know about the IB cover letters from our community.

CompBanker: The cover letter holds almost no weight, other than to put you at risk for being dinged. Make it very simple, very bland, and just say all the usual things. If you have mistakes in it or make outrageous claims, your cover letter will be circulated and laughed at.

Like @CompBanker said, you won't get the interview with your cover letter .

Your goal for the cover letter isn't to single-handedly land you an interview with your eloquence and grandiose; it's to check the box and make sure it's proper enough that it doesn't get you dinged .

The Only Program You Need to Land in High Finance Careers

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Less Is More for Cover Letters

Our users shared great input on why 'less is more' when it comes to cover letters.

bkm125: What you really want people to be looking at is the resume. The longer your cover letter is the larger the chance that you'll have a typo or say something stupid. Just tell them what job you're applying for, who you've been in touch with at the firm, and maybe a few sentences about your qualifications and lock up the deal with a solid resume.

K.I.S.S: Keep It Simple Stupid.

Mention who you've talked to at the firm , your interest in the job, your qualifications , and briefly (very briefly) explain any gaps in your resume .

Avoid excuses , more on this later.

Two or three paragraphs is all you need for that. Any more than that , and you're giving them potential reasons to ding you .

Here's some great advice from @blackice".

blackice: The best thing you can do is name drop people you have talked to. That way I know you have done your homework, and I can ask the person you talked to how your chat was. I think cover letters are better when they are focused on your past work experience as opposed to general and arbitrary sentiments about how you are a "hard worker and team player with a strict attention to detail".

If you've talked to someone at the firm and they'd remember you, DO namedrop them in your cover letter.

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Here are some of the usual mistakes candidates make in their cover letter as mentioned by our member @qonnect.me.

This is an example of an excuse in a cover letter:

"I realize I have more professional experience in technology than in finance. I believe that was just due to bad luck due to graduating from my MBA program at the height of the 'Great Recession '. However, I am 100% committed and motivated to prove myself in a finance position."

Bad luck? No, it's the shitty and difficult-to-read resume , cover letter , and 'research reports' that are the issue .

What goes on in the recruiters head: I'm almost certain you would be a terrible employee just by the quality of the work you sent me in a cold email . You graduated from college 10 years ago, by the way. I remember at least a few of those as being pretty good years. If you were halfway decent, you could have squeaked in the industry in more than a few of those years.

Please do not pin all of your circumstance on luck , especially in a cover letter .

Even if the reader is a big believer in luck , you're telling him you're unlucky .

Who wants to hire someone who's unlucky? It seems the bad luck streak started in utero, if you ask us.

Revealing Your Ignorance:

Even worse than just plain ignorance, is the below quote from an attached research report that a candidate had written. Since he thought it was worth including, I assume the report was something he was proud of, but it was cringe-worthy.

"I am placing a STRONG BUY recommendation on [company]. ("ticker") and believe that [the company], at the current price of $10.00, trades at a 123% discount to my estimated fair market value of $22.30" (Both made up numbers to scale to the actual numbers listed in the 'report')

The report should have never been attached .

It made a weak applicant look even worse . He's clearly never done anything but 'book learn' on these subjects. It's painfully obvious by reading the report. He uses four valuation methodologies on the stock with the sole intention of showing that he knows more than one valuation method .

If you're thinking of including a research report on a company when you're cold emailing people, it's a high-risk strategy. Your research probably sucks unless you've been doing it professionally. If there is any doubt at all about including a 'research report', do not do it.

Side note: The research report had a lot of opinions and not a lot of facts, and it lacked connections between really basic facts about the current state of the business to the 'projections'.

If you don't think you have a chance to get the job, you can toss a Hail Mary with your cover letter .

Here's a cover letter an audacious undergrad used in an effort to stand out and grab the attention of its reader .

A big swing that's either a hit or miss . We don't recommend using this cover letter unless you lack the slightest chance of getting the interview in the first place.

Dear BLOCKED, My name is (BLOCKED), and I am an undergraduate finance student at (BLOCKED). I met you the summer before last at Smith & Wollensky's in New York when I was touring the east coast with my uncle, (BLOCKED). I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk with me that night. I am writing to inquire about a possible summer internship in your office. I am aware it is highly unusual for undergraduates from average universities like (BLOCKED) to intern at (BLOCKED), but nevertheless, I was hoping you might make an exception. I am extremely interested in investment banking and would love nothing more than to learn under your tutelage. I have no qualms about fetching coffee, shining shoes, or picking up laundry, and will work for next to nothing. In all honesty, I just want to be around professionals in the industry and gain as much knowledge as I can. I won't waste your time inflating my credentials, throwing around exaggerated job titles, or feeding you a line of crap (sic) about how my past experiences and skill set align perfectly for an investment banking internship . The truth is I have no unbelievably special skills or genius eccentricities, but I do have a near perfect GPA and will work hard for you. I've interned for Merrill Lynch in the Wealth Management Division and taken an investment banking class at (BLOCKED), for whatever that is worth. I am currently awaiting admission results for (BLOCKED) Masters of Science in Accountancy program, which I would begin this fall if admitted. I am also planning on attending law school after my master's program, which we spoke about in New York. I apologize for the blunt nature of my letter, but I hope you seriously consider taking me under your wing this summer. I have attached my resume for your review. Feel free to call me at (BLOCKED) or email at (BLOCKED). Thank you for your time. Sincerely, BLOCKED.

Interested in Investment Banking - Breaking In

If you want to break into investment banking, you need to be well-prepared for the technical aspects of the interview. We advise you to check out our  Free Investment Banking Interview Guide  first, before investing in  our paid course , so that you have an idea of what to expect.

Two common mistakes that candidates make while recruiting for IB: 

• Using phrasing like "After my summer analyst stint, I learned the entire deal execution process...", "I am extremely proficient in Excel and financial modeling ...", etc. You get the idea. Be confident, but don't over-emphasize anything out of the scope of your ability to speak to it.
• Not enough emphasis on teamwork. This is important. People should know that you are able to work with others. This is easy to incorporate, just give a brief two sentence overview of what your team structure was and why it made sense.

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WTO / Letters and Emails / Banking Cover Letter (Guide and Examples)

Banking Cover Letter (Guide and Examples)

Over recent decades, there has been an increased rate of economic growth in most societies. In response to this, banks have also widened their horizons to meet the financial demands of such growing economies. This has made banking jobs popular, especially with extreme competition. Therefore, the following tips will help you write a job-winning cover letter.

How to Write a Cover Letter?

To write a cover letter effectively, follow the following basic steps:

Contact information

First and foremost, you need to include your contact details in the cover letter. You can start by listing your name, address, phone number, email address, and date.

Just below it, you need to mention the contact information of your recipient. If you don’t have the recipient’s contact details, you can simply write the company’s name and a greeting, just as explained below.

Global Bank Ltd.

Dear Sir/Madam,

If you are sending the cover letter via email, you will have to omit the recipient’s address. Instead, just include the greetings at the top.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

The first paragraph is all about explaining to your recruiter who you are and why you are writing. Always remember to keep this paragraph short and sweet. Also, ensure you are creative enough to grab the reader’s attention. Mention the post you are applying for and how you heard about the job.

Paragraph 2

This is one of the most extended paragraphs in your cover letter. Here, you need to start selling yourself. Make the recipient know why you are a hot catch. To achieve this better, express your personality, your relevant experiences, and skills related to banking such as financial modeling, analytical capability, leadership, and teamwork, among others. Always remember to concentrate more on the most recent internships or jobs. Also, refrain from using empty phrases such as “ I am a hardworking and self-motivated person. ” Instead, look at the critical skills related to the job you are applying for.

Paragraph 3

You need to inform the reader that you are fit for this job. Link your experience and skills directly to the job position and explain ways in which you can contribute to success.

Paragraph 4

This paragraph should be very brief, as it is your concluding paragraph. You can use this paragraph to cover any practical issues, such as your availability for the interview. It’s also important to appreciate them for their time. Once again, remind them of your attached or enclosed resume. Lastly, don’t forget to include your contacts. If you know the name of the recipient, you can end the letter with “ Yours sincerely. ” However, if you don’t get the recipient’s name, you can write “ Yours faithfully” before following with your name.

Free Template for a Banking Cover Letter

[Your Name]  

[Your Address]  

[City, State, ZIP Code]  

[Your Email Address]  

[Your Phone Number]  

[Employer’s Name]  

[Bank/Financial Institution Name]  

[Company Address]  

Dear [Employer’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the [Position Name] position at [Bank/Financial Institution Name], as advertised on [Job Board/Company Website]. With a strong background in banking and a proven track record in delivering exceptional customer service and driving operational efficiency, I am confident in my ability to contribute to the success of your team.

In my previous role as a [Your Previous Position] at [Your Previous Bank/Financial Institution], I successfully [mention an achievement or responsibility that demonstrates your skills]. This experience has honed my expertise in [mention a key skill relevant to the position, such as customer relationship management, risk assessment, or financial analysis].

I am particularly drawn to [Bank/Financial Institution Name] due to its reputation for [mention a specific aspect or value of the bank, such as customer-centric services, innovation, or community engagement]. I am eager to contribute my skills and knowledge to enhance your team’s success and uphold the high standards for which [Bank/Financial Institution Name] is renowned.

Key strengths that I bring to the role include:

• [List a key strength or skill, e.g., strong analytical skills, attention to detail, effective communication].
• [Another relevant strength or skill, e.g., proficiency in financial modeling, compliance expertise].
• [A third strength, e.g., dedication to maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction].

I am excited about the opportunity to further discuss how my skills align with the needs of [Bank/Financial Institution Name]. I am confident that my experience and enthusiasm make me a strong fit for the [Position Name] role.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my skills and experiences align with the goals of [Bank/Financial Institution Name].

[Your Full Name]

Teller Cover Letter Sample

Dear Mr. Johnson,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Teller position at CityScape Bank, as advertised on your website. With a solid foundation in banking operations and a commitment to delivering excellent customer service, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the efficient and client-focused atmosphere at CityScape Bank.

I constantly showed accuracy and attention to detail when managing cash transactions in my previous position as a Teller at Downtown Bank. My ability to balance daily transactions efficiently and maintain a high level of accuracy contributed to the overall success of the branch. Additionally, I actively engaged with customers, addressing their inquiries, and providing assistance with various banking services.

I am impressed by CityScape Bank’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its reputation for fostering a positive banking experience. With my background in cash handling, customer service, and familiarity with banking software such as FinTech Pro, I believe I can make significant contributions to your team.

• My experience in accurately processing and balancing transactions ensures a reliable and trustworthy banking experience for customers.
• I take pride in building rapport with customers, addressing their needs, and providing guidance on banking services, contributing to a positive customer experience.
• I am proficient in utilizing various banking software and adapting to evolving industry trends, ensuring efficiency and compliance with banking regulations.

I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of CityScape Bank and uphold the standards of service excellence that your institution is known for. I am confident that my skills and enthusiasm make me an ideal candidate for the Teller position.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my experiences align with the goals of CityScape Bank.

Jason Moore

Experienced Banker Cover Letter Sample

I am writing to express my keen interest in the Senior Risk Analyst position at ABC Bank, as advertised on your company website. With an extensive background in risk assessment, a track record of implementing robust risk management frameworks, and a dedication to ensuring the financial integrity of organizations, I am eager to contribute my expertise to the success of ABC Bank.

In my previous role as the Head of Risk Management at XYZ Bank, I successfully implemented comprehensive risk assessment processes that resulted in a 30% reduction in potential financial exposures. I led a team of risk analysts in developing and executing strategies to mitigate operational, credit, and market risks, ensuring compliance with industry regulations. My hands-on experience in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks aligns well with the responsibilities of the Senior Risk Analyst position at ABC Bank.

I am particularly drawn to ABC Bank due to its reputation for innovative risk mitigation strategies and a forward-thinking approach to risk management. I am eager to bring my skills and knowledge to enhance your team’s capabilities in maintaining a resilient risk management framework.

• Strategic Risk Assessment: Proven ability to assess and prioritize risks, developing and implementing strategies to safeguard financial stability and minimize potential losses.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adept at navigating and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, keeping the organization in compliance with industry standards.
• Team Leadership: Experience in leading and motivating cross-functional teams to achieve common risk management objectives.

I am excited about the opportunity to discuss how my skills align with the specific needs of ABC Bank. I am confident that my experience and commitment to effective risk assessment make me an ideal candidate for the Senior Risk Analyst position.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my experiences align with the goals of ABC Bank.

Marie Cromwell

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Investment Banking Cover Letter Sample

As 632,000 finance careers are added to the job market between now and 2024, your cover letter shouldn't be what makes your job application crash and burn. It should enhance your chances of landing an interview.

Many employers are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort and screen resumes, so using a writing service that specializes in finance cover letters, like TopResume, can ensure that your application sails through those systems – and doesn't get tossed in the trash.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

If you're applying to jobs that require an investment banking cover letter, it's important to avoid blunders that could ruin your chances. Such mistakes include:

• Using the wrong finance cover letter format. Does your cover letter's format match your resume's format? It should. It should also clearly state important information like date, your address and an easy way for the recipient to get in touch with you.
• It's all about you. What's in it for the employer? How would hiring you benefit their company? Those are the questions your cover letter and resume should clearly answer, rather than strictly talking about yourself.
• It has typos and/or grammatical errors. A good way to get a hiring manager to toss your cover letter in the trash is to forget about proofreading. If it's riddled with errors, it comes across as unprofessional. It also points to carelessness – you didn't care enough to check for mistakes before submitting your job application.
• It makes unsupported claims. It's one thing to claim you're an expert at improving company profit margins and increasing revenue, it's another to prove it. Do you have the evidence to back up your claims? You should. And it should be in your cover letter.

Will your investment banking cover letter steer clear of the trash pile and get you the interview? Two of our resume packages (Career Evolution and Executive Priority) include cover letter writing. We guarantee you'll get 2x more job interviews within 60 days or we'll rewrite your resume for free.

Land an interview with the right cover letter. Use our cover letter writing service today!

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16+ Banking Cover Letter Templates – Sample, Example

Job seeking is one of the most challenging events that every individual must take. It surely is not an easy task to do as well—from endless sample resumes and cover letter making, looking for prospective employers, to repetitive questions from recruiters. It is essential to always create a good first impression toward hiring managers, and this should mirror, apart from your resume, through your cover letter templates.

Free Cover Letter For Bank Job

• Google Docs

Bank Job Application Letter

Cover Letter Sample For Bank Job Application In Word Format

Banking Cover Letter Templates

• Address your printable letter directly to the employer
• You can write about your interest in the banking position
• Write about your personal, educational, and experience detail(s)
• Your personal detail(s) should have your name, address, and contact detail(s) for communication
• Make sure you write your area of study in your educational detail(s)
• Write about your skills and experiences(if any). It will help you to get the job you are interested in.

Application Letter For Bank Job With Experience

Cover Letter For Bank Job Fresher

Application For Employment As A Mobile Banker

Simple Job Application Letter For Bank

Sample Bank Job Application Letter Format

Bank Cover Letter Sample

Letter For Internship In Bank

Application Letter For Bank Job

How to Write a Banking Cover Letter

• You should write your necessary details at the top portion. The name and contact information should be on the right side, and the hiring manager’s name and contact details are on the left side. In case you don’t have the name, make use of the company name and address. You can also see more on  Professional Banking Resume in Word .
• Make a clear and concise introduction. This is the part where you should state who you are and how you learned of the job vacancy. You also include what attracts you to the position and the company. Write at most 2 to 3 sentences.
• Write down your background. This part is where the lengthy paragraph starts. Begin by writing what you are currently doing and give relevant experiences you’ve had. Highlight the relevant skills applicable to banking.
• Conclusion section. This is the area where you write down your contact information and include that you look forward to hearing from them. This should be in short sentences. You can also see more on  Banking Cover Letters in Word.

Branch Manager Cover Letter

Job Letter Sample For Bank

Cover Letter For Bank Job PDF

Cover Letter For Banking Position

Short Cover Letter Sample For Bank Job

Sample Cover Letter For Bank Job

Guidelines for Cover Letter Making

• Your cover letter formal should consist of contact information, a salutation, the content, and suitable closing.
• When it comes to salutations, it is necessary to include an appropriate salutation at the start of the basic cover letter .
• For closings, ensure to make use of a professional close statement to your cover letter professional .
• For formatting, you should always follow the standard format. Include the purpose of your writing design cover letter , what you have to offer, and in what way you will follow up.

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