Private Banking Intern Review

I have genuinely looked forward to work at the weekends - I cannot believe the internship has gone by so quickly.

It is clear that on the internship and graduate scheme, you are very valued at Coutts. Especially when you look around at the senior management and see people who were on the grad scheme themselves and have worked their way up over the years.

My line manager was very supportive and helpful. He was quite young and had been on the grad scheme a few years ago, which was very helpful since he knew the grad scheme very well. However, this also meant that he had time to sit down with me every week and discuss work, while being able to help setting up meetings with senior members of staff as well.

The right amount. The wealth side is probably more busy because it is more project based, where as the banking side is more reactive based. But I like the idea of taking on as much work as you can and trying to improve the business by taking on lots of 'extra curricular' activities. It is very clear that you won't get work that makes you stay until midnight, nor are you expected. It is almost frowned upon if you stay late all the time because it suggests you are inefficient. This provides a really nice work/life balance.

I was calling clients and in client meetings from day one. The client interaction and responsibilities at Coutts is second to none. Not only are you trusted to sit in on meetings with clients and interact with them, but you are also given the responsibility to meet some of the high profile clients that Coutts has. You are also entrusted to fill out applications for lending and investments and doing actual work rather then mundane 'work experience' work. We were also given a task to collate, assess and analyse prospecting strategy from a high level point of view.

I doubt this internship will directly impact on my degree since it is in Philosophy and Theology. It will impact my studies insofar as I have developed much better people and communication skills, as well as organisational skills and a better approach to work. Going forward, the most important skill learnt definitely has to be the ability to communicate, sell and get on with people - something that will never be truly digitalised.

Genuinely really good fun. I get in earlier then I would need to just to try and get my work done because I know that my team is so chatty and lively so I want to join in. Everyone in the office is really nice and you would struggle to try and find someone who isn't nice and doesn't like the office.

Very well organised - we were given a good structure at the beginning of the internship and a clear projection of our career prospects for the internship and job opportunities afterwards.

Coutts invest a lot of time and money in training the interns. Occasionally there is a bit too much training though.

Very appealing - you can do almost anything within the bank since it does lending, banking and investments.

Great social scene - regularly, and maybe a bit too often, went for coffees/drinks with other interns and members of my team. Everyone gets on really well so it is a nice environment to be apart of.

Very expensive - it's London after all!

Pretty good nightlife - it's in Soho so always buzzing.

Yes - there are many sports and interest clubs within Coutts, such as Sailing, Football, Hockey, Wine etc. There are also football tournaments and softball games.