How to Write a Banking CV: Examples and Tips

The key to landing your dream job in the competitive finance industry starts with an exceptional CV. Each wave of application submissions and interviews brings with it a mix of hope and uncertainty, a rollercoaster of emotions that can leave you feeling both exhilarated and exhausted.

Whether you're a seeking a promotion, are a recent graduate, or exploring a new career path, an effective CV holds the key to opening doors of opportunity. In this guide, we walk you through how to write a banking CV that aligns with your career goals. Alongside this, we provide tips to ensure it is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS).

With our help, you can learn how to transform your CV into a powerful tool that captures your capabilities and resonates with recruiters or hiring manager. Our expert advice on choosing the right CV template ensures your application rises to the top, catching the eye of hiring managers and securing that coveted interview. Through personal statement examples, practical tips, we're here to support you in your journey to success.

From excitement and confidence to patience and resilience, navigating the job market requires a blend of emotions and strategies. Keep reading to learn about the fundamentals of writing a modern CV.

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Banking CV example

Oliver is an experienced Bank Manager with over 5 years of experience. His CV perfectly showcases soft skills via the personal profile and hard skills through a short but effective skills section. He demonstrates his suitability and working history in a fluid and easy-to-scan manner. Listing technical abilities at the end of the CV is an excellent way to underscore his value as a candidate. The Columbia template conveys Oliver’s skills and expertise clearly and concisely.

Explore our matching banking cover letter example to help you streamline your job application process.

What to include in a banking CV?

Hiring managers for banker roles will expect to see certain content on your CV. Start with vital sections like a personal profile, contact details, email address, work experience, education, skills and certifications. 

Enhance its impact by including additional sections like career accomplishments, glowing references or hobbies and interests. Explore additional useful tips in our guide on how to write a good CV.

To maintain consistency across all your applications, and to save time creating job-specific applications later on, we recommend starting the CV writing process with a master CV. This document contains all your relevant soft and hard skills as well as work experience and education. 

How to write a good banking CV in 5 steps

1. Leverage interest with a captivating personal profile

Similar to other customer facing roles like cashier or receptionist, a bank CV template should show your individual qualities and the personal attributes bringing value to the role. Including a compelling personal profile is crucial to grab the hiring manager’s attention and a great chance to showcase must-have soft skills for the banking world like communication, empathy and reliability. 

Refer to the customer service CV example for more tips.

To get some more tips if you are applying for an internship, refer to our internship CV example.

For more inspiration to write your CV if you are finishing school, refer to our school leaver CV example.

2. Include essential banking skills

Whether you’re creating a CV for a bank apprenticeship or a CV as an experienced banker, listing your skills on a CV  is an opportunity to show hiring managers you have the right expertise for the role.

Be clear and effective by including soft skills in your personal profile, then, create a separate skills section to highlight hard skills and any relevant technical abilities.

This is your chance to show you have the top skills employers look for in the role. A winning bank CV format blends industry-specific knowledge, a wealth of learned skills with a friendly, empathetic and communicative approach. 

Take a look at similar professions such as accounting and finance for inspiration on how they list skills on a CV.

Essential skills for a banker CV

• Excellent communication: Conveying information clearly, listening actively.

• Attentive listening: Focused, comprehensive understanding of spoken information.

• Customer-orientated: Prioritising client satisfaction and needs.

• Empathetic: Sensitively understanding and sharing others' feelings.

• Organisation and prioritisation: Efficiently arranging tasks, managing time.

• Service-orientated: Committed to excellent customer service delivery.

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3. Borrow our tips for how to write work experience

Make an impact in this section of your banking CV by separating daily duties from key achievements and tailor each to match the job requirements. Format your entries in one short paragraph explaining responsibilities followed by two or three bullet points outlining key achievements. Hiring managers want to get relevant information as quickly and easily as possible. 

If you’re entering the profession after a career change or transitioning from a related sector like investment banking, now is the time to underscore your transferable skills.

Examples of work experience

Branch Manager | Big Family Bank, Manchester, UK | 2021 - present

Oversee the smooth functioning of the branch office, guiding both customers and employees towards the branch's success. With a comprehensive understanding of various branch operations and the ability to provide expert guidance to bank employees and customers, ensuring seamless daily operations.

• Successfully increased the customer base in the local area by 10% within the first year in the role.

• Achieved target revenue year-on-year, leading the branch team in surpassing financial goals.

Customer Service Representative | Globo Bank, London, UK | 2018 - 2021

Delivered exceptional service to customers by handling inquiries, processing transactions, and ensuring efficient day-to-day branch operations. Responsibilities included managing a high volume of customer interactions while adhering to strict protocols and safety guidelines.

• Successfully resolved an average of 150 customer inquiries per week, maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction and receiving positive feedback in 90% of interactions.

• Consistently exceeded branch targets over three consecutive years, contributing to the team's overall success and recognition within the bank.

Banking Intern | Prestige Bank, London, UK | Summer 2023

Contributed to various aspects of branch operations, gaining hands-on experience in customer service, account management and financial transactions. Assisted senior staff in guiding customers through banking processes, resolving inquiries and promoting bank products and services. Actively participated in team meetings and training sessions to enhance knowledge of banking procedures and compliance standards.

• Contributed to the development of a promotional  campaign, resulting in a 15% increase in product adoption.

• Played a key role in organizing and executing promotional events to attract new customers, contributing to a 20% increase in foot traffic to the branch.

School leaver with little to no work experience

If you have recently graduated from high school and have little to no work experience, don’t worry. You can always find relevant experience for entry-level positions from previous roles you may have held. In the example below, we show how to supermarket work experience with a customer service role in banking.

Sales Assistant | SuperMart, London, UK | 2017 - 2018

Used strong analytical and critical thinking skills to address customer needs. Effectively communicated with customers, ensuring a positive shopping experience on the sales floor. Worked in a fast-paced environment and stayed calm under pressure to handle financial transactions with precision and an eye for detail.

• Processed an average of 200 transactions per week, demonstrating accuracy and efficiency in handling monetary exchanges.

• Successfully completed three training courses in customer service, enhancing my expertise and customer-centric approach.

Explore our blog for more tips on how to effectively showcase work experience on a CV.

4. Include an education section on your banking CV

There’s no getting around the fact that your education section is going to be broadly similar to the next candidates. To effectively include education on your CV, list qualifications in reverse chronological order. Start with the most recent achievements and work backwards. This section should include the name of the qualification, the institution where you studied and the dates of study.

For those with limited work experience such as students or graduates, more emphasis can be placed on educational achievements, including relevant coursework or projects that demonstrate transferable skills. Draw inspiration from a graduate CV example or consider using a skills-based CV format.

Examples of education:

• Financial Analysis and Decision Making with Xero and Tableau Microcredential, FutureLearn, Online, 2022

• (CertRDB) Certificate in Retail and Digital Banking, London Institute of Banking and Finance, UK, 2021

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), London Business School, London, UK, 2016

• Bachelors of Arts (Hons) Business Administration, University of Winchester, UK 2013

Examples of apprenticeships:

An excellent way to get ahead in this sector is to seek out and apply for an apprenticeship in banking. Banks offer a range of apprenticeships for various positions, such as:

• Credit Controller or Collector

• Financial Services Customer Adviser

• Investment Operations Administrator

• Mortgage Adviser

• Compliance or Risk Officer and

• Financial Adviser

4. Balance your CV with additional courses and certificates

Highlighting relevant courses and certificates ties your application to specific banking techniques or areas of financial advisorship. This section is a chance to show professional development and a commitment to high standards. Some professional courses to look into include:

• Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice

• Financial Planning Certificate

• Certificate in Investment Management

Format your courses and certificates in reverse chronological order including the certificate name, awarding body and date.

[Title], [Organisation/Issuer], [Date]

(CertRDB) Certificate in Retail and Digital Banking, London Institute of Banking and Finance, UK, 2021

For a look at how other competitive industries include certificates or awards on the CV, take a look at our business analyst and bookkeeper articles.

Key takeaways

Let’s take a moment to recap the five key takeaways of preparing an excellent CV for the banking sector. 

1. Start with a master CV: This all-inclusive document should contain all your work history, skills, education and certificates to date. Use it as a jumping off point for later applications.

2. Prepare an impactful personal profile: Start with a power sentence, keep it concise and highlight your unique selling points.

3. Showcase your relevant skills: Integrate soft skills into your personal profile and work experience sections while creating a separate heading for hard skills.

4. Organise your work experience: Do this in reverse chronological order, emphasising quantifiable achievements and contributions.

5. Highlight both soft and hard skills: Focusing on industry-specific knowledge and a customer-orientated approach.

Next steps?

Iron out any creases using our intuitive CV maker with 20+ CV templates and professional designs to choose from. To accompany your CV, discover our cover letter templates. If you don’t want to leave anything to chance, connect with our professional CV Writing Service.

Additionally, check out our related blog article on the highest-paying jobs in the UK for more information on career prospects and average salary for banking roles.

FAQ

What is a typical UK CV format for a banker?

A typical UK banker CV format includes the following sections:

• Personal information

• Personal profile

• Work experience (in reverse chronological order)

• Education and qualifications

• Skills (soft and hard skills relevant to the industry)

• Certifications and additional courses

• References (optional).

How long should a banking CV be?

Aim for a maximum of two pages, focusing on relevant experiences and achievements. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and use bullet points to make the CV easily scannable for recruiters. Discover more about the ideal CV length for the job you are applying for.

What is the average salary of a banker in the UK?

The average salary of a banker in the UK varies depending on the specific role and level of experience. Entry-level positions may start around £20,000 to £30,000 per year. More experienced bankers in managerial positions can earn over £60,000 annually. Investment bankers and private bankers often earn higher salaries, with the potential for substantial bonuses.

How to write a CV for investment banking?

For an investment banking CV, highlight your financial acumen, analytical skills, and attention to detail. Emphasise any relevant internships, coursework, or certifications related to finance and investment. Showcase your ability to work under pressure, excellent communication skills, and any experience with financial modelling or data analysis. Refer to our investment banking CV example for more inspiration.

What is a banking personal statement on a CV?

The personal statement on a CV is a concise paragraph that introduces you as a candidate. It showcases your key attributes and career goals within the financial industry. Tailor the personal statement to align with the specific role you're applying for. Emphasise your passion for finance, customer service, and problem-solving abilities.