Essential Information
Degree programs in banking and business administration often take four years to complete and offer courses in banking principles, regulations, investments, statistics, management and financial planning. The business administration program includes additional courses in business disciplines such as finance, business communications, business law and marketing. Students who complete a business administration degree program may be prepared to take securities licensing tests. Admission into a bachelor's degree program requires a high school diploma and GPA, along with satisfactory ACT or SAT scores and personal recommendations.
Bachelor's Degree Programs in Banking
These programs prepare students for many roles within banking, including loan officer, credit analyst, financial planner, investment banker and branch manager. Students will gain the communication skills, both verbal and written, needed to interact with customers. Graduates should also know how to make sound decisions when it comes to marketing, finance and management in a bank setting. The courses cover a broad range of topics to prepare well-rounded graduates. Some courses made available include:
- Financial accounting
- Statistics
- Communication
- Bank management
- Credit analysis
- Banking regulations
Bachelor's Degree Programs in Business Administration: Banking and Finance Concentration
These programs focus on the core business areas of management, financing, marketing and accounting with an emphasis on banking. Candidates gain a strong understanding of the business of banking and financing in this specialized program. The knowledge gained will help students prepare for the Series 6 and 63 securities license exams.
Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to obtain supervisory and managerial positions. The curriculum provides an overview of the economic, ethical, strategic and legal aspects of running a financial institution. A few courses one might take are:
- Management principles
- Information technology
- Marketing principles
- Banking principles and business law
- Finance
- Statistics
Career Outlook and Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for bank tellers is expected to decline 15% from 2019 to 2029. These workers made a mean annual wage of $31,230 in 2019 (www.bls.gov).
Per the BLS, financial managers made a mean annual salary of $129,890 in 2019. The same source states that the number of bank locations will increase because of the competition to gain customers.
Continuing Education Information
Those who wish to continue their educations may enroll in programs that lead to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance. Students gain more in-depth understandings of investment banking, management, commercial banking and international finance.
Individuals pursuing careers in banking and finances should obtain a bachelor's degree for entry-level employment and consider a master's degree to advance into higher paying positions and salaries. Candidates with the proper training in banking and business administration can move on to successful careers in financial management, investment, marketing, and accounting.
