Corporate Banking Intern Review

I worked as a Corporate Banking Intern at Scotiabank, supporting relationship managers and the wider team across credit analysis, client due diligence, lending, and business development. On a day-to-day basis, I analysed clients’ financial performance, capital structure, liquidity and debt capacity, built financial databooks, researched prospective clients, and benchmarked lending terms and pricing. I also contributed to identifying hedging opportunities in collaboration with the FX desk.

I was given significant responsibility for an intern, with opportunities to take ownership of analytical work and present my conclusions to senior colleagues. I wrote a credit paper recommending a lending facility for a multinational client and defended my recommendation at a Credit Committee meeting, as well as presenting the client’s annual review. I also independently researched prospective clients and assessed potential lending and hedging opportunities, with my analysis directly supporting the team’s client and credit decisions.

During my internship, I developed both my existing skills and learned new technical skills. I significantly improved my presentation and communication skills, delivering four presentations over the 10-week placement, including presenting to senior members of the team and defending a credit recommendation at a Credit Committee meeting.
I also developed my financial analysis skills by analysing clients’ financial performance, liquidity, capital structure and debt capacity. In addition, I gained practical experience in credit analysis, learning how to assess a client’s creditworthiness and evaluate lending opportunities. I strengthened my research and analytical skills through researching prospective clients and analysing comparable lending facilities and pricing. Finally, I improved my attention to detail and ability to work independently, particularly through building financial databooks and preparing analysis that was used to support client due diligence and decision-making.

I received a strong level of support and guidance throughout my internship. I was encouraged to arrange meetings with colleagues of varying levels of seniority, which allowed me to broaden my understanding of the different areas of Corporate Banking, how they interact with one another, and the different responsibilities of each desk. I was able to use the knowledge and insights gained from these conversations to inform my individual project at the end of the internship.

The company culture was very inclusive, supportive and collaborative. Everyone I worked with was approachable and willing to help, regardless of their level of seniority, which made it easy to ask questions and learn from others. There was a strong emphasis on helping interns develop and gain exposure to different areas of the business. I felt encouraged to take on responsibility, seek out opportunities to learn, and make the most of my time at the company. Overall, the atmosphere was professional but friendly, and people genuinely seemed invested in helping me grow throughout the internship.

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and found it to be a very rewarding experience. The placement challenged me intellectually and gave me the opportunity to apply the academic skills and knowledge I have developed at university to real-world situations. I particularly enjoyed working on challenging projects that required me to analyse financial information, develop my understanding of corporate banking and present my recommendations to senior colleagues.
The internship also gave me the opportunity to build my professional network by meeting people across different areas and levels of seniority within the bank. These conversations broadened my understanding of the industry and helped me identify areas that I would like to explore further in my career. Overall, I found the experience both challenging and enjoyable, and I feel that I developed significantly both professionally and personally as a result.

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