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Bank Branch Managers

Education and Training Requirements

High School

To prepare for a career as a branch manager, take as many business, economics, mathematics, statistics, and accounting classes as possible. English and speech classes will be extremely useful because as a branch manager you’ll constantly be communicating with your employees, higher-ups, and the general public face to face and in writing. Taking a foreign language—such as Spanish—will allow you to interact with customers who do not speak English fluently. Other important classes include computer science, psychology, advertising, marketing, history, and social studies.

Postsecondary Education

Some banks hire branch managers with only a high school diploma and some experience in management, banking, and financial service, but the majority of employers prefer applicants who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or economics, or business administration with an emphasis on accounting or finance. Most programs also require an internship at a bank, credit union, or other finance-related business.

Certification

The American Bankers Association (ABA) offers a branch manager certificate that covers banking essentials, business management, sales, and employee relations. To earn the certificate, applicants must complete 68 classes and exercises, including Banking Basics, Employment Law, Ethical Issues for Bankers, Fundamentals of Consumer Lending, Fundamentals of Small Business Banking, and Verbal Communication. The ABA estimates that it will take 14 hours to complete the certificate program. Visit https://www.aba.com/training-events/online-training/branch-manager-certificate for more information. State-level associations also offer certificate programs. For example, the Michigan Bankers Association offers the branch manager certificate to those who complete four educational sessions on topics such as customer service, sales lead generation, successfully managing employees, and online banking.

Other Education or Training

Participating in continuing education (CE) classes and webinars is a good way to keep your skills up to date and stay abreast of industry developments (e.g., new types of loans, new compliance-related legislation). The American Bankers Association is a major provider of CE opportunities in financial management, bank operations, consumer banking, general banking, and other areas. The Independent Community Bankers of America offers in-person classes and webinars that focus on topics such as communication, customer service, bank compliance, management and leadership, and financial operations for community banks. State and local banking associations also provide professional development opportunities.

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