Careers 101: Los Angeles Banking Jobs

Published on 2008-07-01

Schools:

Bank teller jobs account for about 30% of all banking industry employment according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The next largest group, loan officer jobs, makes up just over 7% of all banking employees. Bank tellers normally need only cash handling and customer service experience, while loan officers typically possess a bachelor's degree and loan or mortgage certification. For other occupations in the industry, such as management jobs or financial jobs in sales or services, a bachelor's degree in business administration, economics, finance or a related subject is standard. A master's in business administration (MBA) is advantageous for career advancement. Schools in the Los Angeles metro area that would provide a strong educational background for all types of banking careers include the University of California, Los Angeles; California State University, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; and Loyola Marymount University.

Employers:

Once the haunt of famous chroniclers of Los Angeles' dispossessed such as Raymond Chandler and John Fante, the downtown Bunker Hill area has since become the most visible source of Los Angeles banking jobs. L.A.'s financial district boomed during the 1970s and 80s as changes in zoning regulations allowed developers like Robert Maguire to advance ambitious development projects; when it was completed in 1990, the 72-story Library Tower, now U.S. Bank Tower, was the tallest office building on the West Coast. A string of mergers in the mid to late-90s resulted in the headquarters of many financial institutions moving elsewhere. However, Bank of America, U.S. Bancorp, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup all have offices on Bunker Hill. Many foreign banks have facilities in Los Angeles. California mortgage jobs and banking jobs can also be found at commercial, investment and savings banks throughout the L.A. metro area.