Commercial Banking Program

  • Class trip to Switzerland, 2022
  • Class trip to Switzerland, 2022
  • Class trip to Switzerland, 2022
  • Field trip to CIBC, Fall 2019
  • BMO Tower visit, 2021
  • Golf Outing with Wells Fargo, 1/10 teams
  • Kathleen Kraninger, Director of CFPB visit to class
  • Students, Dr. Belasko and FDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams at WBA Conference
  • Intro to Banking class visits CIBC
  • Class trip to Switzerland, 2022
  • First Commercial Banking Program conference on Fintech, John Waupsch (seating right) keynote speaker, January 2018
  • Commercial Banking students and Dr. Belasco meet with Senator David Craig as the Wisconsin Legislature announces measures to support financial education
  • Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum Field Trip, January 2018
  • Wintrust Bank, Chicago, Field trip visit, January 2018
  • Class trip to BMO Harris, January 2019
  • Money Museum, Spring 2019 Federal Reserve visit
  • BMO Harris 2022
  • BMO Harris, Chicago, 2022
  • Wintrust, 2022
  • Wintrust, 2022
  • Golf Outing 2022

“Modern Banking has been the single greatest contributor to human progress." -Jason DeSena Trennert, CEO of Strategas Securities 

The commercial banking program at Marquette is all about giving back to the community, creating jobs and strengthening the economy. Our purpose is to create awareness and stimulate interest in this exceptional career path, provide opportunities for students, and channel outstanding talent to the banking industry to perpetuate its record of contributing to societal growth.

The modern commercial banking industry offers exciting career opportunities with plenty of growth potential. Commercial banking roles include lending and credit analysis, risk management, wealth management, operations and technology.

THE CURRICULUM

Program chair Kent Belasco stands with students, guest speaker..

There are just a handful of undergraduate commercial banking programs in the U.S. Marquette is one of the very few in the country to recognize this need and have the vision to develop this discipline.   

We offer a diverse range of courses designed to prepare students for this profession with advance knowledge of the industry and provide them with a competitive edge towards advancement. Students will gain an understanding of the economic function banks perform, their leadership positions, the role of the central bank, as well as regulations. They will also get hands-on experience with functions performed in commercial banks today.  

Enrollees will have the opportunity to supplement their classroom learning with educational trips to Chicago, Washington D.C., and even Zurich, Switzerland, where they can network with industry contacts and understand the financial workings of the world. 

The Commercial Banking Program is accepting applications on an ongoing basis.

For more information or to indicate interest in the program, please contact Dr. Kent Belasco at kent.belasco@marquette.edu or 630-817-8270 to arrange for a confidential interview and discussion. 

 

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

With an alumni base of approximately 60 commercial banking graduates, Marquette bankers are already making their mark on the industry. Students in the Commercial banking program have a 100 percent job placement rate within months of graduation. Starting salaries in the industry often range between $70,000 and $85,000, not including generous signing bonus. 

"My manager told me how they were all so impressed with our credit knowledge and the experience we had without actually having any "real life" experience.  Most of our team worked as underwriters or loan officers before joining Crowe... Marquette Banking courses placed us well beyond the curve."  Paige Tambornino, Crowe, Chicago, class of 2022

Congratulations!  2023-24 Student Placements

John McNulty

Corporate and Institutional Banking Associate, PNC Bank

mcnulty headshot

Madeline Schultz

Risk and Compliance Consultant, Crowe

Madeline Schultz

Garrett Lukoski

CDO Portfolio Administrator, U.S. Bank