Category Archives: Banking

Banking

Banking Interview Questions – What Not To Do

Banking is one of the most challenging industries in which to get hired. The number of applicants for each vacant position can be as high as 100-to-1. The worst thing a potential applicant can do is to make mistakes in answering banking interview questions. Here are some examples of what you do not want to do when you are interviewing for a banking position.

Lack of enthusiasm

Most interviewers will form an impression of you within the first 60 seconds based on how you act and what you say. If you fail to show interest in the position, the company will pass on hiring you. A successful applicant will show enthusiasm for their accomplishments and be able to clearly articulate how they will benefit the company. If you are unable to enthusiastically sell yourself during the interview, how do you expect to sell anything to your bank’s customers?

Dress inappropriately

I once interviewed a person for a banking position that showed up for the interview wearing shorts and flip flops. I asked him if he thought bankers wore this type of attire in their position. His response was that he thought this interview was casual and that is why he dressed the way he did. Always dress more conservatively than the position requires. You do not want to damage your chance of getting a job by dressing inappropriately.

Inefficient knowledge of key job requirements

You may expect the position you are interviewing for includes extensive interaction with bank clients during golf outings, sporting events or dinner. If your expectations for the job are way off then the company will reject your application. If your job routinely requires 80+ hour work weeks then do not ask if you can work only 50 hours.

Ringing cell phone

You should never bring a cell phone to an interview. If you must bring your cell phone, make sure to turn off the ringer before the interview starts. Nothing is more disrespectful to an interviewer than to have a cell phone ring in the middle of an interview. If it does ring, DO NOT ANSWER the phone!

Talking Negatively

If you had a conflict in your current or previous position, do not talk negatively about the issue. Companies do not want employees who are going to be negative because this impacts team dynamics and performance. You do not want to use profanity in answering questions. This shows a lack of professionalism. If you are talking with a bank client and you use profanity, it may lose their account which could be a multi-million dollar account.

An interview is a dialogue between the company and yourself. The interview benefits both parties to determine whether or not a candidate is a good fit for a banking position. Making these mistakes will terminate any chance you have of getting the position.

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Banking

Need For Corporate Investment Banking In India

Corporate investment banking is a segment that has opened up in India in the recent past and with good reason. The benefits of this particular kind of banking are far reaching. This has been realised and therefore today, the need for it in India has grown even more.

The primary role of investment banking in the corporate sector

The most basic role of investment banks is corporate advisory services. When an investment bank is tied up with a corporate, its primary services will include advising the corporate on various aspects like acquisitions and mergers for example. The investment bank in question will also be advising the company on managing their public assets. Selling and buying advisories also come from an investment bank.

Demarcations in India

When it comes to banks in India, the line that divides investment banks from other banks is rather faint. There could be many reasons for this. Two of the most important ones are the fact that investment banking for corporates is still a relatively new field and the second is the fact that every bank irrespective of its domain wants to provide its customers with the best service. Therefore almost every bank offers its customers corporate finance solutions as well.

So what does investment banking really do?

If you were to really sit and analyse the job of the corporate investment banking segment, you will find that its primary objective is to help the capital market move financial resources from the investors to the issuers. This is also called capital intermediation. In lay man’s terms it is moving funds from those to have to those who can use them to contribute to the nation’s GDP. Investment banking as a segment can be very challenging, exciting and vibrant. It is perhaps because of this that it becoming a very popular business segment in India.

SMC Capitals is an Investment Banking arm of SMC Global and is a SEBI registered Merchant Banker that has published many informative articles on Corporate Investment Banking, Corporate Finance Solutions and Corporate Advisory Services. To know more about, kindly visit – http://www.smccapitals.com/corporate-advisory.aspx

Banking

Need For Corporate Investment Banking In India

Corporate investment banking is a segment that has opened up in India in the recent past and with good reason. The benefits of this particular kind of banking are far reaching. This has been realised and therefore today, the need for it in India has grown even more.

The primary role of investment banking in the corporate sector

The most basic role of investment banks is corporate advisory services. When an investment bank is tied up with a corporate, its primary services will include advising the corporate on various aspects like acquisitions and mergers for example. The investment bank in question will also be advising the company on managing their public assets. Selling and buying advisories also come from an investment bank.

Demarcations in India

When it comes to banks in India, the line that divides investment banks from other banks is rather faint. There could be many reasons for this. Two of the most important ones are the fact that investment banking for corporates is still a relatively new field and the second is the fact that every bank irrespective of its domain wants to provide its customers with the best service. Therefore almost every bank offers its customers corporate finance solutions as well.

So what does investment banking really do?

If you were to really sit and analyse the job of the corporate investment banking segment, you will find that its primary objective is to help the capital market move financial resources from the investors to the issuers. This is also called capital intermediation. In lay mans terms it is moving funds from those to have to those who can use them to contribute to the nations GDP.
Investment banking as a segment can be very challenging, exciting and vibrant. It is perhaps because of this that it becoming a very popular business segment in India.

SMC Capitals is an Investment Banking arm of SMC Global and is a SEBI registered Merchant Banker that has published many informative articles on Corporate Investment Banking, Corporate Finance Solutions and Corporate Advisory Services.

Banking

The range of banking Jobs in Edinburgh

There are lots of different positions available so you should be able to find a job that is relevant to you.  Have a look at the list below and if you require more information you should do some research online into the job role.

Business Reviewer Job

This job pays between £8 and £12 per hour.  This job is on a contract basis and the company is looking for business reviewers to work on a large client project until the summer of 2011.  Successful candidates will be expected to complete a daily log of issues and manage individual data files.

Direct Relationship Officer Job

This role offers a salary of up to £25,000.  It is a permanent job role based in Edinburgh.  The successful candidate will be working in the ‘centre for excellence.’  You should work well in a team and have proven sales and customer relationship management experience.

Pensions Administrator Job

This job pays between £11 and £14 per hour and is a temporary position.  The successful candidate will be joining a successful and well known financial services company.  They will need to take an active role within the project that they are given.

Senior Performance Analyst Job

This is a full time, permanent position with a competitive salary.  The successful candidate will be working with a well known financial services company.  They will join their talented team in Edinburgh.

Operational Risk Officer Job

This is also a full time, permanent position.  The salary is not disclosed.  The successful candidate will be working for a financial services company and their role will be to minimise risk and control activities.

This list demonstrates that there are lots of different financial jobs in Edinburgh, so you won’t be short of choice.  Edinburgh is Scotland’s second largest city and it is located in the south-east of Scotland.  It is a very attractive city with an interesting history which makes it an extremely nice place to live.  If you think you might want to work in Edinburgh then you should do some further research into what the city has to offer.  Once you are sure that it is a suitable town for you then you can start to look for jobs online.

There are some great Banking Jobs in Edinburgh but if you fancy a change you might also want to search for Banking Jobs Aberdeen

Banking

Offshore Banking in the British Virgin Islands

Avoid Excess Taxes By Banking Offshore In The British Virgin Islands.

The British Virgin Islands consist of 50 islands, out of which only 16 are occupied. These islands cover 54 sq. miles of land forming the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, 62 miles east of Puerto Rico. They adjoin the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Islands have over 24,000 inhabitants, with a GDP per capita of $ 38,500.

Being so close to the United States, this nation use the U.S. dollar as currency, and English as their official language. This makes banking and business that much easier for anyone planning on investing there.

A very attractive reason for investing here are the minimal trust maintenance fees and low corporate taxes. These and other factors combine into making it an extremely attractive place for investors interested in opening an offshore banking account. That could be the reason offshore investing provides over half of the governments revenues, and is one of the “mainstays” of the country’s economy.

A state-of-the-art telecommunications system provided by U.K. Cable and Wireless is one of the critical factor in the Virgin Islands’ success.

A modernized infrastructure made it possible for the Islands to restore electricity within 24 hours, after 3 hurricanes passed over them in 1996. This proved to potential investors, the Islands’ ability to recover quickly to natural disasters, with a minimal disruption of business.

Tourism combined with a very favorable business climate for offshore investors, supports most of the nation’s economy. Being a British Overseas Territory offers a stable political and business environment usually associated with the British flag.

The Islands are self-governing, and have a democratically elected Legislative and Executive Council. Democratic elections are held at least once every four years.

The Law is based on the British Legal System and English Common Law. The court system is made up of a Magistrates Court, a High Court and a Circuit Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, while a final appeal can be made to the Privy Council in England.

These islands, with their English speaking citizens and a pro-business government, have implemented laws that are user-friendly to investors, and have minimal regulations.

They have no taxes on estates, wealth or capital gains.

While there are a lot of options, when it comes to moving your money to an offshore bank account, the British Virgin Islands seem to offer everything a savvy investor should look for.

Visit QWealthReport.com for further information on Banking Offshore. As our world continues its progress towards globalization, and high speed internet is made more and more ubiquitous, living abroad and running international businesses and offshore corporations are becoming increasingly common. At the Q Wealth Report we provide a reliable guide to help you take your first steps offshore and create wealth like never before.

Banking

Pros and Cons of Cord Blood Banking

The stem cell cord blood banking has been the ray of hope for treating incurable medical problems. But it has its own share of its pros and cons. Certain factors such as morals, race, medical history of genetic problems etc. that can influence the decision to opt for blood storage.

Factors Affecting Cord Blood Donation

Receiver’ compatibility – because of the immaturity of the stem cells found in cord blood, the receiver has a lower risk of graft as against. host illness, which can be a severe immunity problem. Convenience – it is simpler to recover blood form teh cord as compared to bone marrow. It is due to its cryogenic storage and is easily obtainable for transplant. It is difficult to find bone marrow donor and the procedure to obtain it is difficult. Cultural or racial groups – Race and morals hamper the bone marrow donation. CB banking, where the blood form the cord is saved at the time of childbirth, helps in this point. Free services – if you cannot afford the charges CB registry, certain private banking companies offer free services.

PROS

The major benefit of preserving blood from the cord is its easy availability during the moment of saving a persons life. The stem cells are already present in the cord blood bank, so, are easily available in case of the transplant. No pain or harm caused to the mother or baby at the time of cord blood collection. It is a very easy procedure performed right after delivery.

Cord-blood cells can assist in curing of over 50 diseases like leukemia, critical sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, etc. Stem cell cord blood is more likely to become the accurate fit for family members and relatives without the risk of rejection by the receivers body.

CONS

No accurate approximation to assert that a normal child without any risk factor will use her own preserved blood.

The commercial cord-blood bank charges around $ 1,500 for CB registry, along with the annual $ 100 maintenance fee. Also, you might have to pay a few hundred dollars to get the cord blood collection kit, towards the courier fees, and for first steps of cord blood banking.

Many stem cell transplants are carried out only on kids or tens. They are insufficient for an adult transplant. A big-sized person requires bigger quantity of blood producing stem cells for a successful transplant.

There is no clear proof to validate that stem cells of a relative are more successful than those taken from a stranger. Both the donors have same success rate since the cord blood stem cells are unripe, so, the perfect match is immaterial.

Doctors donate have much expertise in cordblood stem cell transplantation.

Few medical experts opine that a sick child obtaining her own cord blood stem cells can become susceptible to be afflicted with the same disease again. But this fact is not medically supported. Blood cord storage can be a new fashion very soon. But the decision lies in your hands. Also, you must choose well beforehand of the due date as the loss of the precious blood, makes it difficult to recover it.

To learn more visit: Pros And Cons Of Cord Blood Banking

Banking

Andorra Offshore Banking and Economy

The principality of the Valleys of Andorra is also known in Western Europe as Andorra. It is a small landlocked country approximately 181 sq. miles in size bordered by France and Spain, with Andorra la Vella as its capital city.

The majority of its 84,488(est. 2008) citizens speak Catalan, while a smaller portion of its population speak French or Spanish.

It has a close proximity to both France and Spain, which makes their languages the ones most likely to be encountered in the banking community.

Andorra is growing in prosperity everyday as seen by it GDP per capita of $ 42,500. This has come about because of its growing prominence as both a tax haven, and the increase in its popularity as a destination for tourist.

Andorra has a solid infrastructure, with a hydro-electric industry which supplies over 40% of the country’s electricity, making it less dependent on its neighbors for power.

Like a lot of the smaller counties in Western Europe, Andorra has a parliamentary representative democratic form of government. It has a co-principality shared by the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell. The Prime Minister is head of government and of a pluri-form multi-party system.

Its legal system combines codification used by France and Spain in making and interpreting laws.

The Parliament, also known as the General Council has between 28 and 42 members in its legislative branch, known as Councilors. These Councilors each serve four-year terms. Half of the Councilors are chosen through elections by the seven administrative parishes, and the other half come from a single national constituency. The Councilors elect a Prime Minister from their ranks.

While Andorra has gained recognition as a tax haven and an offshore banking center, Andorra is a better choice for sheltering personal income, than it is for businesses looking for offshore investment opportunities, used to minimize their corporate tax burden.

Individuals can open offshore bank accounts identified by name or number, and funds can be transferred to the account in any currency.

Andorran banks are known for their efficiency, and have never defaulted on their depositors, possibly due to the fact that they have very conservative policies, along with close ties to Swiss banks.

While there are many reasons to invest your money in Andorra, There is one very good reason for living there: The citizens have the highest life expectancy in the world, at 85 years.

Englishman Peter Macfarlane is an author and lecturer on offshore finance, investment, due diligence and wealth creation matters. After fifteen years advising high net worth clients on offshore asset protection structures such as companies, trusts and private interest foundations, he decided on a career change and now mentors individuals who are interested in creating, preserving and growing wealth in a secure offshore environment. Peter defines wealth in the broadest sense, believing that money is worthless if you don’t have health and happiness. He is now joint editor of The Q Wealth Report, a publication dedicated to publishing freedom, wealth and privacy information for a select audience. He offers a free sample copy to readers of ezineseeker. You can visit The Q Wealth Report to learn much more about offshore private banking.

Banking

Entry Level Investment Banking Jobs

Investment banks have a traditional aspect called “investment banking,” which helps clients with their capital market transactions through professional advice on small- or large-scale mergers and acquisitions. Investment banks help the clients on their major financial decisions that would surely affect their wealth or the business of the client. The clients trust the bank to be able to uphold its ideals of being an honest and stable institution that would handle their activities in utmost secrecy. The clients trust that the bank would never divulge sensitive information to other clients or competitors. Thus, the field of investment banking can be truly delicate. When clients lose their trust on a company, this will bring the company down.

The deals of the investment banks are on the hands of their competent employees. One little mistake on an employee’s part can cost the bank and the client millions. Working in an investment bank truly involves a lot of risks, but professionalism will see the entrant through. To better achieve the best for their clients, it is often necessary to work extra long hours, which can have sudden shifts in mood from elation of a success in the transactions to frustration and stress on difficult ones. Getting started as an entry-level professional in the field of investment banking can truly be hard. The ones who have succeeded must have used the various experiences gained as their stepping stone.

Being an analyst is usually the easiest way to land a career in investment banking. Those employed on entry-level analyst job positions should work hard to understand even the trivial aspects of the investment tools and develop their analytical skills. By doing so, the simple analyst will be eligible to be promoted to higher levels such as that of an associate.

Because of the sensitive nature of this field of work, landing entry level investment banking jobs is generally very difficult, and the processes involved can be extremely competitive. The pay also tends to be far less than higher positions; however, this is usually expected for any entry-level position. The general rule is that the more compensation the employee gets, the more responsibilities and liabilities are on his shoulders. What is important for an entry-level job would be the experience. Quality learning in the entry-level investment banking job would gauge the value of the professional for the next level. Maximizing what one learns will, in turn, maximize the value of the next levels’ earnings, which would lead to better employment opportunities.

However, professionals in entry level investment banking jobs should not be disheartened because a quick research on banking statistics will show that compensation is bound to double after the third level, especially if the professional has acquired a master’s degree in business administration. Therefore, the investment banking profession should be regarded as a continuing learning process for the entry-level professional.

Fast and accurate professionals in entry level investment banking jobs mean fast and accurate investment transactions. This is the very essence that the client expects.

Do you have what it takes to take up these Entry Level Investment Banking Jobs? You may want to read up more details at Investment Banking.

Banking

Available Help For Business Banking Needs

The days of handshake deals and “gentlemen’s agreements” are long past. Today’s business is transacted through boards, financial officers, offshore schemes, and the internet. The complicated network of accounting organizations and electronic transactions requires a very sophisticated and precise knowledge of financial instruments and money movement that the average businessman hasn’t the time or training to understand.

That is why companies of any size or scope must seek commercial banking help. Without the experience and expertise to navigate the hazards of conducting business through electronic platforms and detailed accounting regulations, a venture might well find itself resting on the rocks in short order.

For a business to survive and hopefully prosper in today’s market place, they will need to engage in a whole host of complicated fund transactions and reporting methods to satisfy not only their own requirements but those of their clients as well. Cash management, foreign exchange, offshore investing, and credit support are just a few of the challenges that face any entity wishing to stay competitive in these ever-changing economic times.

Banks and lending institutions recognize this need and have responded by providing the type of commercial banking help that businesses will be looking for more and more. The variety of financial products and services that most banks offer today address the most important fund management issues facing commercial ventures.

The face of business has changed drastically as well, due to the increase of online networking and electronic fund transfers. The response from lenders has been to provide selective and informed industry experts that have the background and knowledge to answer questions and offer advice and service in the very specific areas that these various industries deal with.

Most of all, today’s lenders provide the technology and administrative support that will aid the businessman in the management, accounting, and financial reporting that are part and parcel of doing business in the modern world of the electronic economy.

Visit us to get more information on topics like commercial banking help and bad credit banking.

Banking

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Guide

Umbilical cord blood banking is one more option available to expectant parents, which should be taken before the birth of their child. It is a vital decision that must be considered carefully. The final decision whether to save cord stem cells or not is a personal one but while deciding on it, you must educate yourself as to what the procedure entails as well as the pros and cons.

Cord blood banking means saving or storing the stem cells. To get these stem cells, your doctor will draw blood from the umbilical cord at the time of your baby’s birth. This blood is then dispatched to the company whose services you want to use. Here the stem cell’s are removed from the blood and stored particularly for the later use of your family.

The reason why this is done is that the available research shows this blood has the power to heal injuries and ailments. E.g. diseases like leukemia, lymphomas, brain damages, brain tumors and other cancers have been successfully treated by cord stem cells. But these are just some diseases from amongst the 70 diseases that can be cured by stem cell, and the list keeps on getting longer.

So the question, why should people not opt for cord blood stem cell banking, should be asked. While this question cannot be answered with certainty, since the situation and belief varies amongst people, the cost is the main reason dissuading many people. Another con is your individual views and if using stem cells lies within the acceptable limits of each person.

The average charges for enrolling in the well-known companies are around $ 1600-$ 2100. These charges cover the kit for gathering, the transportation costs to send the blood to the company’s locations, processing the cord blood and obtaining the stem-cells, and the storage fees for the first year. Moreover the annual storage fees are around $ 125 on an average.

All expectant parents must take an educated decision as to what is proper for them. The charges and the advantages it offers about your family’s later health are just few of the points that should be considered when deciding.

To learn more visit: Umbilical cord blood banking