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Bank manager

Alternative titles for this job include Building society manager, financial institution manager or director

Bank managers oversee the day-to-day operations of their branch, supervise staff and work to attract new customers.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£55,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 40 a week

You could work

weekends on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You could take a degree before applying for a management trainee scheme. Most degrees are acceptable, though you may gain relevant skills from subjects like:

  • management
  • accounting
  • economics
  • finance
  • law
  • marketing
  • maths

You could get work experience during your degree through:

  • taster days or work shadowing opportunities
  • banking vacation schemes
  • spring or summer internships
  • a year in industry placement

Work experience will give you a head start when applying for trainee manager jobs when you graduate.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could do a course at college that may give you some of the skills and knowledge to apply for trainee bank manager positions.

For example you could do a T Level in Finance.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could join a bank as an apprentice and work your way up to management positions.

Relevant apprenticeships include the:

  • financial services administrator advanced apprenticeship
  • senior financial services customer adviser advanced apprenticeship
  • financial services professional higher apprenticeship
  • chartered manager degree apprenticeship

If you want to work in commercial or investment banking you could do a Level 7 senior investment and commercial banking professional, higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could apply to join a bank in a customer service job and work your way up.

You'll usually need a least 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.

You could take further training on the job while you study for management qualifications.

More Information

Further information

You can find more advice about training and working in banking from the:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • business management skills
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • leadership skills
  • knowledge of economics and accounting
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of your branch or a number of branches. You could:

  • communicate and put into practice, business, marketing and sales plans
  • monitor sales targets and budgets, and produce figures and reports
  • assess lending risk
  • motivate staff to meet targets
  • learn about the needs of individual and business customers
  • make sure that staff follow rules and procedures
  • develop relationships with the local community and businesses
  • deal with customer complaints

Working environment

You could work in an office.

You may need to wear smart business clothes.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

You could work towards chartered banker status with the Chartered Banker Institute. This could help broaden your career options at senior management level.

With experience, you could take on responsibility for several branches in a local area. You could move into head office operations, or work with the bank's overseas division.

You could also work in corporate or investment banking.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Client Administrator Apprentice

  • Wage: £20,000 a year Annually
  • Location: Hertford

Apprentice Administrator

  • Wage: £20,000 a year Annually
  • Location: Threshers Bush
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Level 3 - Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF ) Adult PT

  • Provider: RNN GROUP
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Rotherham
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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