J-1 Visa Banking Jobs
Banking roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 Trainee or Intern program category, which places you with a U.S. host employer under a structured training plan. A State Department-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019 and arranges sponsorship, not the bank itself.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We strive every day to exemplify our CLA Meridian Capital values – curious, collaborative, transparent, inclusive, and reliable. We are looking for individuals who believe in accountability for one’s actions, take the initiative to make their vision a reality and place honesty, professionalism, conscientiousness and trust above all else. CLA Meridian Capital is a leading middle market investment banking practice, serving clients across a wide range of industries. The practice differentiates itself through deep industry insights, a customized service approach, and an end-to-end commitment to execution. We provide merger and acquisition advisory, capital raise, and strategic advisory services, helping business owners and leadership teams navigate complex transactions with confidence.
CLA Meridian Capital is dedicated to building a culture that welcomes different beliefs and perspectives, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.
ROLE
Our Seattle, WA location is seeking Investment Banking Interns.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This in-office internship is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in investment banking and gaining hands-on exposure to middle-market mergers and acquisitions. Interns will work closely with experienced investment bankers and are involved in multiple aspects of live transactions and firm initiatives. Through transaction exposure, financial analysis and modeling, and research-driven assignments, interns gain practical experience in investment banking while developing strong analytical, communication, and professional skills. CLA Meridian Capital’s collaborative team environment provides interns with meaningful responsibility and experience across deal teams.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Perform in-depth industry and company research
- Conduct financial statement and sales data analysis
- Build financial models for company valuations and projections
- Assist with the drafting of new client pitches, company presentations, and marketing materials
- Participate in the execution of M&A and financial transactions
- Maintain CRM database
- Support senior investment bankers as needed
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Working towards the achievement of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in: Finance, Economics, Business Management or Accounting strongly preferred
- General knowledge of accounting principles and reporting of financial data
- Willingness to learn new technologies
- Demonstrated interest in middle market investment banking
- Strong oral and written communication skills with excellent research and writing capabilities
- Analytical thinking with the ability to articulate complex ideas simply and summarize effectively
- Exceptional work ethic with a high level of enthusiasm, initiative, and leadership potential
- Proficient with Microsoft (MS) Windows and Office products.
- Reliable transportation to the office.
COMPENSATION
- The wage range for this position is: $28–$35
Factors such as geography, experience, education, skills, and knowledge may impact position of pay within the range.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
Click here to learn about your hiring rights.
WELLNESS AT CLA
To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.
To view a complete list of benefits click here.
INTRODUCTION
We strive every day to exemplify our CLA Meridian Capital values – curious, collaborative, transparent, inclusive, and reliable. We are looking for individuals who believe in accountability for one’s actions, take the initiative to make their vision a reality and place honesty, professionalism, conscientiousness and trust above all else. CLA Meridian Capital is a leading middle market investment banking practice, serving clients across a wide range of industries. The practice differentiates itself through deep industry insights, a customized service approach, and an end-to-end commitment to execution. We provide merger and acquisition advisory, capital raise, and strategic advisory services, helping business owners and leadership teams navigate complex transactions with confidence.
CLA Meridian Capital is dedicated to building a culture that welcomes different beliefs and perspectives, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.
ROLE
Our Seattle, WA location is seeking Investment Banking Interns.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This in-office internship is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in investment banking and gaining hands-on exposure to middle-market mergers and acquisitions. Interns will work closely with experienced investment bankers and are involved in multiple aspects of live transactions and firm initiatives. Through transaction exposure, financial analysis and modeling, and research-driven assignments, interns gain practical experience in investment banking while developing strong analytical, communication, and professional skills. CLA Meridian Capital’s collaborative team environment provides interns with meaningful responsibility and experience across deal teams.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Perform in-depth industry and company research
- Conduct financial statement and sales data analysis
- Build financial models for company valuations and projections
- Assist with the drafting of new client pitches, company presentations, and marketing materials
- Participate in the execution of M&A and financial transactions
- Maintain CRM database
- Support senior investment bankers as needed
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Working towards the achievement of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in: Finance, Economics, Business Management or Accounting strongly preferred
- General knowledge of accounting principles and reporting of financial data
- Willingness to learn new technologies
- Demonstrated interest in middle market investment banking
- Strong oral and written communication skills with excellent research and writing capabilities
- Analytical thinking with the ability to articulate complex ideas simply and summarize effectively
- Exceptional work ethic with a high level of enthusiasm, initiative, and leadership potential
- Proficient with Microsoft (MS) Windows and Office products.
- Reliable transportation to the office.
COMPENSATION
- The wage range for this position is: $28–$35
Factors such as geography, experience, education, skills, and knowledge may impact position of pay within the range.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
Click here to learn about your hiring rights.
WELLNESS AT CLA
To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.
To view a complete list of benefits click here.
See all 132+ Banking jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Banking roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Banking
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
Banking J-1 Trainee applicants need a degree in finance, economics, or accounting plus at least one year of relevant experience abroad. Gaps between your credential and the proposed training program are the most common reason designated sponsors reject DS-2019 applications.
Target banks with documented exchange visitor history
Search Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. banking employers that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors, so you're approaching organizations already familiar with the DS-2019 process and host-employer obligations under the training plan.
Verify the host employer's E-Verify enrollment early
Most designated sponsors require the host bank to be enrolled in E-Verify before they'll issue a DS-2019. Confirm enrollment status before you accept an offer, not after, because retroactively enrolling can delay your program start by weeks.
Build a training plan that maps to real banking tasks
Your designated sponsor will require a detailed training plan listing specific competencies you'll gain, such as credit analysis, regulatory compliance review, or capital markets operations. Vague objectives like 'learn U.S. banking' are routinely rejected at the DS-2019 stage.
Negotiate the offer before the sponsor submits the DS-2019
Once your designated sponsor submits your DS-2019 to the State Department, the program start date, host employer, and training objectives are locked. Settle compensation, hours, and role scope with the bank before that submission window closes.
Clarify the two-year home residency rule with your sponsor
Banking Trainee programs funded by a foreign government or tied to government-sponsored exchange may trigger the two-year home-country residency requirement. Confirm with your designated sponsor whether your specific funding source activates this requirement before you sign anything.
Banking jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Banking JobsBanking J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to banking roles?
The J-1 Trainee category fits most banking professionals who have a relevant degree and at least one year of post-degree work experience outside the United States. Current students completing a degree in finance or a related field typically qualify under the J-1 Intern category instead. The correct category determines program length, training plan requirements, and eligibility rules set by the State Department.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a banking position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the bank where you'll work. The bank is the host employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, approves your training plan, and monitors compliance throughout the program. You negotiate your job offer with the bank, but you apply for program placement through the designated sponsor.
How do I find banking employers that are open to J-1 exchange visitors?
Use Migrate Mate to search for U.S. banking employers with a history of hosting international professionals. Many banks are unfamiliar with the host-employer obligations tied to a J-1 training plan, so targeting organizations that have navigated the process before significantly reduces friction during the offer and DS-2019 submission stages.
Can the two-year home residency requirement affect banking J-1 holders?
Yes. If your banking training program is funded by your home-country government or a U.S. government agency, or if your home country has identified banking and finance as a skill in shortage, you may be subject to the two-year home residency requirement after your J-1 ends. This prevents you from changing to most other visa statuses, including H-1B or permanent residence, until you fulfill or waive that requirement.
What should a J-1 banking training plan include to satisfy a designated sponsor?
A strong training plan names specific banking competencies you'll develop, the methods used to teach them, and measurable outcomes for each phase. Examples include credit risk assessment procedures, regulatory reporting frameworks, or treasury operations workflows. Sponsors reject plans that describe only general exposure to banking. The plan must also specify supervision structure and confirm the host bank has staff qualified to provide that oversight.
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