Banking is the business activity of accepting and safeguarding money owned by other individuals and entities and then lending out this money to earn a profit. Investment banking or iBanking is a division of banking encompassing business entities dealing with the creation of capital for other companies. In addition to acting as agents or underwriters for companies in the process of issuing securities, investment banks also advise companies on matters related to the issue and placement of stock. iBanking is catching up in India as more and more people are investing their capital into the financial market. iBanking hours vary with banks and depend on the client requirement.
Investment Banking is a concerted effort to connect the capital markets with firms that need the money. The capital markets take the form of investors in debt (such as banks who give firms loans) and equities (such as private equity players) and publicly traded equity markets (primary – IPOs and secondary – trading in the stock exchanges). Investment Banks also advise clients on strategic acquisitions, divestments, and restructurings that are connected with enhancements to firms’ balance sheets.
It is a tough field to be in IBanking, that is. The working hours in IBanking have a seriously brutal reputation. For decades, the working hours have oscillated between 80-100 hours per week. Not only does it sound tyrannical but over a period of time banks have begun to implement protected weekends and mandatory time off for junior bankers. IBanking is a highly productive but challenging job that requires high levels of mental energy. You might be in the office for long hours depending on the work and the client’s response. If you “work” 80 hours per week, yes, you’re in the office from 9 AM to 1 AM on weekdays, or from 9 AM to 11 PM on weekdays with a 10-hour day on Sunday.
IBanking hours might differ but depend hugely on the large amounts that clients pay as fees, the unpredictable work demands, and division of labor failure and the work culture contributes highly to the working hours involved in iBanking.
