Usually 2nd upper will cut it for most graduate programs including MA programs in Banks.

I cannot comment on Graduate Trainee programs in other MNCs though but I am pretty sure that 2nd upper is sufficient for the banks.

I joined a bank MA program. 2nd upper will get you shortlisted and after that it is pretty much your performance during interviews. They take history majors as well so there is no discrimination. However, it just means that you need to know financial basics or else how to show you interest in joining financial services. Nothing too complicated.