Mar 01, 2023

Didn't get Rotational Program but Suggested to Apply for Commercial Credit Analyst Position

I applied for a Rotational Commercial/Credit program at the regional bank I am employed at. They had 3 positions available for my state and I was waitlisted to see if any of them were to reject. None of the others rejected so I wasn't extended the offer. The program coordinator did inform me of an opening as a commercial credit analyst. I am wondering what the career path is and just any general input on that position. Also is it possible to get into the sales/front office side of commercial banking.

 

Not a credit analyst myself but after sitting through many meet-the-firm events with commercial banks, the traditional path seems to be credit analyst and then choose/ get selected to go down either a relationship or analysis route. The relationship side seems to path up to a relationship manager and the analysis side seems to path up to risk.

Could be wrong so if anyone who is in this role could confirm, that would be great.

 

Thanks for the reply! I don't have many connections with the CB side of things so its nice to see some career paths and where they stem from. 

 

It looks like you didn't make the cut for the big leagues. But don't worry, there's still hope for you yet. As a commercial credit analyst, you'll have plenty of time to brush up on your Excel skills and bond with your fellow back-office brethren. And who knows, maybe one day you'll even make it to the coveted front office. But until then, keep grinding and don't forget to bring your A-game to those credit memos.

 

Thanks for the reply! A little hope is all that's needed! The rejection was just a bump in the road and hopefully like you mentioned bringing that A-game and gaining/polishing up some skills might lead the way.

 
Most Helpful

The Rotational development program is typically your golden ticket to whatever job you want in regional banks. Understand that as you figure out what to do - you will always be short-changed compared to the annointed ones that come from the development program. Always. Not intended to discourage you - just make you aware of the ways of the world. 

That said - a credit analyst position could be an opportunity, but it will depend on 1) you, and 2) the bank. Not knowing the size or strategy of your institution, I'm just speculating based on my own personal experience at what was a large, super-regional bank a long time ago. 

Typically, credit analysts are just spread monkeys who receive financials and spread the numbers into some system based on a rule-book. They will do this without thinking and without contacting the people in the front office in the name of "data integrity" and stupid credit risk management "best-practices". If you take that position and do that job, it will always just be a job. You may learn a few things here and there but you probably will always just be a spread monkey.

If you take the opportunity to work hard and use every single spread you look at as an opportunity to learn, grow, and be a better analyst that is connected to the front office and invested in their success... then you could very well end up leveraging that into a front or mid office position that is generally just given to one of the rotational program alums. But you will almost certainly have to be self-taught on how to do this. The banks will invest a lot of resources into talent development at the rotational program level - they likely want their analysts to stay in their little analyst pool and not see the sun or feel the spray of the sea on their face and know that a different life is possible. They won't encourage you to do separate projects or anything that would take away from hitting your productivity, turn-time, and quality service level agreements. 

TL;DR... if you like the bank and truly want to get into commercial banking - analyst slots are a great choice. You just have to make it the classroom that it can be - the bank won't do it for you. 

"And where we had thought to be alone we shall be with all the world"
 

Thank you for the reply! I really appreciate having an insiders perspective of the industry, your reply was full of information and motivation. Made me realize where I am standing and it is up to me to create my own opportunities. Like you mentioned if I end up going the analyst route I am planning on going in and just be a sponge. Collecting all the knowledge possible to make myself more marketable and useful in CB. If you don't mind sharing, what are things that you think helped you in your own experience or that of others?

 

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"And where we had thought to be alone we shall be with all the world"

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