UBS Requires AI Skills from Junior Bankers (Financial Times)
UBS will require graduates and interns joining in 2027 to prove they can use AI to improve outcomes, according to the Financial Times. Interviews will include questions about candidates’ use of AI tools.
Previously, banks, including UBS, focused on hiring fewer junior bankers. This shift changes the requirements for what a junior banker must be.
The new requirement applies to applicants for the Swiss bank’s 2027 graduate intake in Global Banking and Markets, both as graduates and interns.
What UBS is actually asking for:
The bank seeks candidates who can demonstrate the practical application of AI to improve outcomes and efficiency, going beyond mere familiarity with tools like ChatGPT.
This requirement complements traditional entry criteria, such as a strong academic degree, and will be implemented through UBS’s "AI Fluency Pathway" program.
Context and Comparisons:
This is the first large bank to explicitly outline this requirement, though Santander also expresses interest in advanced AI users in some trainee programs, according to the Financial Times.
Previously, stories focused on banks shrinking their graduate intakes or reducing job ads aimed at career starters, reflecting a broader trend of automation in banking.
UBS’s Approach:
UBS’s focus on AI skills elevates the specification of what a junior banker should possess, shifting from mere supply to specific capabilities.