DBS Bank career advancement, starting from entry
 

Hi, I noticed that most of the threads are talking about bank graudate position, associate position and above. However, what I would like to know is the advancement starting from Entry position in DBS. I heard that there is grading in each level, such as Bank Executive a,b,c,d. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

(Once again, correct me if I'm wrong) The advancement structure as the following (shall stop at director):

Bank Executive -> Analyst -> Associate -> AVP -> VP -> SVP -> Director


1) What is the estimated time to advance to next position for FO as well as BO, assume that one's performance is good?
2) What are the grades in each position, assuming there is such grading?
3) What is the salary to be expected at each position?
4) What is the norm for the annual increment, assuming the one's performance is good?

Hope you guys are willing to share such information! No sarcasm please, as this is for the sake of sharing only. Thank you! :D

Any sharing of information will be great! Don't have to be in full details if only partial information is available (:

Analyst - 1 yr - 4000 to 5000
Associate - 2 yr - 4800 to 8000
AVP - 2yr - 8000 to 13000
VP - 5yr - 13000 - 29000
SVP - ?? - 25000 - 52000
MD - ?? - >60000

Hi, thx for your info. However, it is highly unreliable if you referring to local banks. Analyst won't be able get 4k and above in DBS. The pay range for each position is too wide. If you are saying 5 years experienced analyst, it may be the case. But usually such experienced person would have promoted to associate. Unless you are referring to big foreign banks, I doubt this is the norm for local banks.

Nevertheless, I appreciated your reply. I still wish to get a more accurate answer from someone who works or used to work in local banks. :)

How do you know analysts won't get 4k in local banks?

I did some research of my own. I may not be right, of course, so please pardon me if I'm wrong about this. However, from what I know, local bank analyst usually gets 2.7k to 3.4k (plus minus). Management Associate (MA) gets 3.7k to 4k at the start. Associate gets 3.2k and above. However, it still depends. As for foreign banks, they usually do pay better (vary) than local banks. So the previous post may be correct for foreign banks, but most probably not for local banks. Once again, I may not be correct, that's why I'm looking for a more accurate answer. Sharing is good (:

Not sure where you got your numbers from. DBS MA was 4.5, this year probably higher.

Associate gets 3.2? lol

Oh. How did you get that number? You were one before or currently in DBS? Anyway, are you able to share some info about the questions in my first post? Thx :D

Associate definitely min 4.8k. AVP min 8k seems a bit low, most should be >10k

Then may I know what are the position before Analyst? Next position after Bank Executive is Analyst? How long does it take to promote from BE to Analyst, if one's performance is good?

2 sources: This forum and a friend who's a DBS MA. The number he gave me was very close to the figure given in this forum.

Position before analyst is executive. Yes your first post is right. Executive has different grading. The answer is, it depends. No one's replying you probably because there are way too many variables. Let's put it this way, if you're good, then you won't have to worry about promotion.

Thanks a lot man. This clears a lot of doubts. Appreciate your help. :)

Hmmm, Executive (2k salary) to Analyst (4k salary), that actually increase quite a lot tbh. I can assume there are really a lot of gradings and each increases few hundred dollars.

You were offered 2k as executive? 5 yrs ago that's what they offered to fresh execs. Surprised that the figure hasn't changed yet

No, the figure was based on what people say. But i guess is around that, hasn't change. Lol

But seriously, from 2k plus minus to 4k plus minus (BE to Analyst) is really a lot. Lol, I really doubt one rank difference is that much, unless there are 6 grades in BE before finally promoted to Analyst (which I doubt there are so many). Just wondering. Hmmm.

2k starting pay for executive even for local bank like DBS is a joke. You are getting short changed big time. Most MNCs are offering at least 3.4k for an executive.

For the 3 local banks, fresh grads will either go in on the MA track at 4.8-5.2k or normal track at 3.4-3.8k. Either you really CMI or they are offering you a diploma job.

Lol dude, I've already said "no" in my previous post. I'm simply asking for info out of curiousity, not that I'm an executive. And FYI, bank teller (service executive) earns around 2k+-. These jobs are mostly "O", "A" level and Diploma level, and the pay is definitely accurate. Please try to understand what I'm referring to. Lol, your executive positions are different from BE. Position and appointment are different things. Position is the current rank you are holding while appointment is such as service officer and relationship manager. For example, relationship manager is an AVP. Most probably you are referring to at least Analyst, for the amount you mentioned. You don't sound like you're in Banking sector though. Pardon me if I've mistaken your words. :)

A TS who stalks his own thread constantly for 3 days in a row is only "asking out of curiousity"? Haha, yea rite.

Bank tellers will never be analysts. Move to ops and start over from there.

Hi, I am thinking of joining DBS as a retail banking RM first then hopefully in few years time can move on to investment banking or treasury / trading side.

Anyone with experience to share on how to transfer once inside? What is the starting pay like for retail banking RM? I have a degree in statistics from NUS, 2nd lower and have a lot of passion and expert in stock trading (have been making average 5% every month since start of this year).

Wtf
 

You can tan gu gu ah.
If you really zai in stock trading go apply to be Dealer lah.

5% pm is 80% pa. If you are making this kind of money you wouldn't want to be a Cecilia Sue doing sales and asking stupid questions like how to move from RM to iB.

Lol.

But his question is also somewhat related to what I wanted to know. Which areas of bank will get you better chances to move to iB, such as institutional banking, consumer banking and risk management? And how many years of exp?

I just want to know how fast on average it takes to move from consumer banking RM to trading / IB and what is the pay progression like.

If you guys have nothing to add, just keep quiet. Maybe for some of you cannot imagine how someone can make money from trading, but it works for me and I don't see the point wasting time trying to prove to you all.

don't you think it really depends on yourself?

from consumer group to front office roles
1) you're in their MA program which rotates you around
2) opportunity/vacancy opens up and you apply through internal network

there's no ball park figures for progression

but if you're a consumer group RM wouldn't joining private banking be better?
the skill set for these 2 group varies pretty widely

also if you're consistently making money off trading, wouldn't a hedge fund suit your specialty?

almost impossible. you're asking the wrong question.

Hi, how to get into Corporate Finance, Merger & Aquisition (M&A)? What kind of experience are they looking for?

Honestly they look for a pretty face and / or a top degree.

LOL! Corporate Finance does not require pretty face. Top degree does though.

A pretty face is always desirable.

Hi, I am the one who posted this question. Most importantly, what kind of experience are they looking for?

They're looking for M&A and corporate finance experience. If you're a fresh grad, you don't have any experience, so you will have to ace the interview if they grant you one.

Actually, what I meant was without M&A and corporate finance experience, what kind of bank area will give you better chances to be considered for interview, besides all those mandatory qualification such as good degree grade and such? For example, they may prefer someone with few years in enterprise banking area or few years in consumer banking area or OTHER areas (so which area will expose you to more of something more preferably to be considered for CF, M&A)? Someone help pls!

They look for their DBS scholars...

Its more about connections, you are not suited for banking if you keep thinking like a normal employee concern over experience, deparmnet, grades

What kind of considerations are there usually in an interview? Eg how much % is culture fit, % skill sets, etc? Or is it general basis depending on how much the interviewers like you....

BEC - ~2.2
BEB - ~2.5
BEA - ~2.9
Analyst - ~3.3 to 3.8
Assoc - ~4 to 5
VP - ~5 to 7

Not sure after VP how much is the salary, but this is just a rough guide depending on what position and if there's any allowance. Bonus not included.

Does not apply to RM and sales-related positions.

Progression about 2 years at each level minimum. Of course there are people who manage to level up before 2 years, but there are people who are stuck even after 5 years.

Hope this helps.

Why join DBS Corp Fin, work your ass out for S$3k a month?

But to answer your qn, best department is MA program (if you want to get into corp fin indirectly).

Otherwise, try corporate banking (not commercial banking.)

This range is totally off track, AVP in a typical corporate dept is already 7-12k & most SVPs are >25k, how can a VP be 5-7k?

I'm not in finance sector. But I do come across this website, where it describes what's IB and how to get in:

Finance Careers: Investment Banking Analyst

Another "fun" book to read about IB (and how to get into) is: Liar's Poker

Liar's Poker: Michael Lewis: 9780393338690: Amazon.com: Books

They're in Wall Street context. I thought it might be applicable here (except the pay differences maybe), as still the same bulge bracket firms.

In short, IB career = selling your own soul and life to the Bank for top and smart monies. Perhaps, someone can provide insights in local context.