application letter for bank job format

Banking cover letter examples

If you’re hoping to land your next banking role, then you need a cover letter that’s right on the money.

In our step-by-step guide, we’ll share our top tips and advice for writing an impressive application.

We’ve also created some banking cover letter examples to inspire your own. Check them out below.

CV templates 

Banking cover letter example 1

Banking cover letter example 2

Banking cover letter example 3

These 3 Banking cover letter example s should provide you with a good steer on how to write your own cover letter, and the general structure to follow.

Our simple step-by-step guide below provides some more detailed advice on how you can craft a winning cover letter for yourself, that will ensure your CV gets opened.

How to write a Banking cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When writing your Banking cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.

This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.

If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.

If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.

Start with a friendly greeting

To start building rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager right away, lead with a friendly greeting.

Try to strike a balance between professional and personable.

Go with something like…

• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Stay away from old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies – they can come across as cold and robotic.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try to uncover it via these methods.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *Banking role* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.

Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.

Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.

Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your Banking cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your Banking cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

• Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
• Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
• The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
• Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
• Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

Banking cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Banking cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Hello Harry

I am keen to showcase my interest in the Bank Manager position at Investec. With a distinguished career in the financial service industry spanning over 15 years, I am excited about the opportunity to lead a dynamic team, steer exceptional customer experiences, and contribute to the success of your company.

Throughout my career at Metro Bank, I have held progressively responsible roles, where I honed my expertise in optimising branch operations, client service, team management, and business development across all activities. Some of the significant contributions I have played throughout my time at Metro Bank include, increasing deposits by 30% through integrating targeted marketing campaigns and relationship-building strategies, developing training programs which enhanced branch staff’s cross-selling of bank products by 50%, and lessening annual expenses by £80K by negotiating favourable contracts with suitable vendors.

My passion for fostering a customer-centric culture has been the driving force behind my success, and I am confident that my collaborative approach and ability to build and maintain relationships will ensure continued growth for Investec as a whole. Thank you very much for considering my application and I hope to hear from you very soon regarding scheduling an interview.

Kind regards

Ellen Mount ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I hope you’re well. I am thrilled to apply for the Private Banker role at Santander, as advertised on Indeed. With a successful track record in wealth management and a deep commitment to delivering personalised financial solutions to high-net-worth clients, I am eager to contribute my expertise to your institution.

I possess 7 years of experience as a Private Banker at CitiBank, where I increased AUM by 20% since 2016, successfully generated £3M in revenue and exceeded individual/team targets through cross-selling financial products to clients. I also boosted CSAT scores by 10% within 3-months due to promptly addressing any complaints.

I am eager to leverage my skills to enhance your establishment’s reputation and ensure to its continued success. As a highly analytical professional, I thrive in dynamic market environments and excel at navigating complex financial landscapes. My dedication to providing exceptional service is matched by my commitment to stay abreast of industry trends and guaranteeing my clients receive the most relevant advice.

Thank you for considering my application and look forward to attending an interview at your convenience.

Simon Piles ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Good morning, Gary

I am excited to apply for the Junior Teller role at Fidelity Bank. I am eager to leverage my skills and commitment towards maintaining the high standards of service associated with your institution.

Throughout my academic journey and part-time experiences, I have developed a deep understanding of banking procedures, where I gained valuable insights into the importance of accuracy, confidentiality, and efficiency in handling transactions. As a recent HND Banking Graduate from Lincoln College, I possess theoretical knowledge in financial accounting and economics.

Additionally, I completed a one-year internship at TD Group where I was exposed to real-world cash handling, account management, and customer interactions. During this internship I assisted in the implementation of a new process for addressing inquiries that reduced wait times by 20%, as well as assuring a 100% record of compliance with bank policies which led to successful audits with no major findings.

Please feel free to reach out to me via email or by phone at your convenience to schedule an interview. Thank you for considering my application.

Lisa McKenzie ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Banking job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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3 Banking Cover Letter Examples Landing Jobs in 2024

• Banking Cover Letter
• Mortgage Banking Intern Cover Letter
• Electronic Banking Specialist Cover Letter
• Write Your Banking Cover Letter

The banking industry requires a detail-oriented mindset with compliance as a top concern. You shine in that role by overseeing client accounts, monitoring transactions, and providing excellent customer service.

Are your banking resume and cover letter helping you connect with hiring managers to show you’re right for the job?

When banks are looking for skilled employees, they’ll perform detailed reviews to ensure they bring in the most qualified applicants for interviews. To ensure you stand out, use our banking cover letter examples as templates, or leverage the power of our free cover letter builder to help display your abilities successfully.

Banking Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

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Block Format

Why this cover letter works

• Speaking of the structure, craft a compelling intro diving into your passion, motivations, and possibly, company knowledge; a middle highlighting your professional experiences in reverse chronological order, and a conclusion reinstating your interest and encouraging further discussion.

Level up your cover letter game

Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifiting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Mortgage Banking Intern Cover Letter Example

• Following Anton’s lead, kick off by strategically aligning your career aspirations with the hiring company’s mission and values. From there, intertwine your objectives for the roles with the shared values, showing your readiness to inject passion and drive into the role.

Electronic Banking Specialist Cover Letter Example

• Quickly draw attention to your career’s landmarks that saw you apply relevant industry-relevant skills, such as fraud detection and prevention, database management, and data visualization and analysis, solidifying each experience with numbers. Did you slash financial losses by 31%? Improved operational efficiency by 29%? Flaunt these triumphs, but concisely.

Related cover letter examples

• Banking resume
• Bank teller
• Financial analyst

How to Optimize Your Banking Cover Letter

While all banks have standardized processes to ensure compliance, that doesn’t mean that each one won’t have unique qualifications they’re looking for applicants to possess.

For instance, one bank may be seeking a reconciliation expert, whereas another may be looking for a customer-centric teller who can create a great experience for everyone who walks through their doors. You’ll want to customize each cover letter you submit based on the job description .

Write an attention-grabbing intro to your banking cover letter

When someone walks into the bank, you know the importance of creating a friendly atmosphere since every customer makes a first impression quickly. The same is true when bank hiring managers are reviewing cover letters.

The first step to stand out is greeting a specific hiring manager by name if it’s listed in the job description or on the bank’s website. It’s the same as connecting with customers by learning their names before discussing investment opportunities.

Then, once you get into the first paragraph, you’ll want to show how you connect with the bank’s mission and where your skills fit in. For instance, how you want to use your knowledge of debt consolidation and index funds to help customers make smart financial decisions.

The intro below doesn’t make enough of a connection since it lacks key details about the applicant’s specific mortgage banking skills and the company’s mission.

Not connecting enough!

Hello Mr. Halbert,

Upon seeing the mortgage banking job you have available, I immediately thought this sounded like a great role for my skills. This sounds like a great company to work for, and I would be excited to join your team.

The opener below makes a better connection since the applicant showcases an evident passion for Citibank’s commitment to customer service excellence and exceptional banking experiences.

A well-connected opener based on the bank’s mission!

Dear Mr. Mitchell,

Having long admired Citibank’s commitment to precision and customer service excellence, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to your mission of delivering exceptional banking experiences that serve clients and promote financial success. I share your goal of providing reliable and accurate financial services to individuals globally. My valuable experience in this field can help enhance customer satisfaction, streamline banking procedures, and foster stronger client relationships as your bank teller.

How to make the body of your banking cover letter more impactful

As you get into the body section when writing a cover letter , it’s time to think about how you can share more details about the customer service and financial solutions skills you highlighted in the opening paragraph.

A great way to illustrate your impact as a banker is by using metrics since every financial solution requires data to make accurate decisions. Depending on your role in the bank’s success, everything from customer satisfaction rates to loan-to-asset ratios could work well in this section.

Additionally, if you’re applying to a role like a mortgage banker or investment banker that requires some education, you could also explain how your degree in finance or related fields has equipped you to succeed.

A well-formed body paragraph with banking metrics!

As an operations associate at 1st United Credit Union, I handled, on average, $267,124 in cash transactions daily. This task necessitated meticulous cash management and record keeping, aiding a 24% reduction in transaction anomalies.

Make the closer of your banking cover letter stand out

As you begin the closing paragraph of your banking cover letter, you’ll want to relate back to some of the key financial solutions skills and your connection to the bank’s mission. For example, your passion for the bank’s commitment to excellence and how you want to use your financial analysis skills to provide accurate service to every customer.

After that, it’s a good idea to thank the bank’s hiring manager for their time and end with a light call to action. It’s similar to thanking customers for banking with you and saying you look forward to seeing them again to increase customer retention rates.

The closer below lacks impactfulness since the applicant doesn’t use a call to action or reference the bank’s mission.

Lacking impactfulness here!

Overall, I believe my experience as a mortgage banker will be a valuable addition to your team. Thank you for considering my qualifications.

Lucy Carlson

The closer below makes a much better impact by referencing the applicant’s passion for helping clients achieve their dream of homeownership.

An impactful closer relating to the bank’s needs!

My dedication to assisting clients to achieve their dream of homeownership fuels me to seek further opportunities to enhance my knowledge and skills. I’m confident that my drive and acquired knowledge would contribute meaningfully as Wells Fargo’s next mortgage banking intern. I eagerly anticipate discussing my candidacy further with you. Thank you.

Anton Ivanov

Reviewing the job description and understanding the bank’s needs is the best way to include job skills that stand out. For instance, if the position requires cross-selling, you could write about previous experiences cross-selling credit cards or business banking solutions.

The best way to optimize the tone you write in is by reviewing the job description and trying to match the tone each bank uses. For instance, if a bank uses a formal and logical tone, matching that shows how you’ll fit in with their professional and knowledgeable work culture.

If you haven’t worked in banking before, you could emphasize translatable skills like other jobs involving customer service or data entry. Or you could emphasize relevant education like a bachelor’s degree in finance that equipped you with the necessary skills.