Bank of America interview questions, and the video round
In the US and Canada, Bank of America holds first and second rounds by phone, on-demand video, on campus or in an office, then a final round with the business you applied to. Its video questions are mostly behavioral and open-ended, with 30 seconds to prepare and up to three minutes for each answer.
Updated
- 30 seconds, then three minutes. That's the on-demand video's timing for each answer. Expect to use at least 1:45.
- No follow-ups on video. So say how and why you did something without being asked.
- Notes are okay. Bullet points to touch on, not a script you read.
- Mostly behavioral. Open-ended questions about you, your projects and your interest in the program.
- One office, one division a year. Pick both with care, since that's what you can apply to each year.
What Bank of America says it looks for
From its students application pages and its values:
Eager, curious team players
Students who are eager to learn, show strong intellectual curiosity, are team players and have a genuine interest in its programs.
Genuine interest in the business
Above all, it says, a genuine interest in its business and a passion for teamwork. There is no set candidate profile.
Integrity and leadership
Its EMEA and Latin America pages add high academic, professional and extracurricular standards with integrity, teamwork and leadership.
Its core values
Deliver together, act responsibly, realize the power of our people and trust the team.
From Bank of America's application process page and its values page.
How Bank of America's process runs
For US and Canada student programs. Timelines can vary by school.
Apply, two rounds, the final round
Step 1
Apply online, early
Recruiting is rolling and interviews often start before the deadline. Apply online even if your school also runs a resume drop.
Step 2
First and second rounds
By phone, on-demand video, on campus or in a Bank of America office, depending on the program.
Step 3
Final round
Varies by line of business, but typically interviews with people from the business area you applied to.
Step 4
Offer
Summer internships last about 10 weeks and are its main source of full-time hires.
Bank of America does not publish its video questions or how many final-round interviews there are. In EMEA the video interview is part of the application, due by the deadline.
13 Bank of America interview questions
Our own wording, built on what Bank of America says it asks: behavioral, open-ended questions about you, your projects and your interest in the program.
For the video round5 questions
Two to three minutes each, no follow-ups. Put the how and why in.
Tell me about yourself and why you applied to this program.
What a strong answer does
About two minutes, ending on the program by name. The video can't ask what you meant, so be specific. Example answer
Tell me about a project you're proud of. What was your part?
What a strong answer does
Bank of America says it may ask about projects. Give your own role, a decision you made and the result. Example answer
Tell me about a time you worked on a team where something went wrong.
What a strong answer does
Trust the team is one of its values. Show how you kept the team together and what you changed. Example answer
- “What would your teammate say about how you handled it?”
Describe a time you had to learn something quickly.
What a strong answer does
It looks for students eager to learn. Show the method, not just the fact you managed. Example answer
What would you do if a teammate kept missing deadlines on a shared project?
What a strong answer does
A hypothetical. Say what you would do first and why, since the video can't follow up.
Why Bank of America4 questions
It wants a genuine interest in its business. Be ready for the obvious questions.
Why Bank of America?
What a strong answer does
Point to something about the program or business line you met through its events or people, tied to your own experience. Example answer
- “Why this line of business and not another one here?”
- “Why this office?”
Why this line of business?
What a strong answer does
You can apply to one division a year, so show you chose it for the work, not the name. Example answer
Tell me about a time you had to act responsibly when no one was checking.
What a strong answer does
Act responsibly is one of its values. Give a real, small example and say why it mattered.
What questions do you have for us?
What a strong answer does
Ask the final-round interviewers about their business area. They are the people you would work with. Example answer
Final-round technicals4 questions
For banking and markets roles, the business area interviews can test the basics.
Walk me through how the three financial statements link together.
What a strong answer does
Start from net income, follow it through cash flow to the balance sheet and show it balances. Example answer
Walk me through a DCF.
What a strong answer does
Free cash flow, discount rate, terminal value, then the bridge to equity value. Example answer
When would you use EV/EBITDA instead of P/E?
What a strong answer does
Say what each multiple ignores, then pick for this company and say why. Example answer
What happens to bond prices when interest rates rise?
What a strong answer does
For markets roles. Prices fall, and duration tells you by about how much. Example answer
More to prepare with
Mistakes that cost Bank of America candidates
Short, thin video answers
Bank of America expects at least 1:45 an answer and can't ask a follow-up to draw you out.
Reading a script
Notes are fine, but it wants answers that sound natural.
Applying late
Interviews often begin before the deadline, and programs close as places fill.
Spreading your one choice thin
You can apply to one office and one division a year, so research both first.
How to prepare for Bank of America
Built on Bank of America's own video and application tips.
Before you apply
Pick the office and division
Read the program pages and talk to people from the business at campus or office events.
Before the video
Rehearse to two minutes
Practice typical questions, get feedback from someone you trust and dress professionally.
On the day
Set up the room
No distracting backdrop or echo, strong Wi-Fi, and tell others you need 20 to 30 minutes.
Before the final round
Learn the business area
The final interviewers come from the business you applied to. Prepare its basics and your questions.
The on-demand video, in Bank of America's words
Bank of America is unusually specific about its video round. These are its own tips for the US and Canada.
Timing30 seconds, then up to 3 minutes
Use the 30 seconds to pick your points. Expect to use at least 1:45 per answer, about 20 to 30 minutes in all.
Bank of America: video tipsNo follow-upsSay the how and why
It can't ask a follow-up, so cover how or why you did, or would do, something in the answer itself.
Bank of America: video tipsNotesAllowed, not a script
Write down points you want to hit, but don't read straight from the page.
Bank of America: video tipsInterruptionsKeep going
It wants to see you work through a distraction, so tell people around you when you're recording.
Bank of America: video tipsPlatformHireVue, Teams, Webex or Zoom
Bank of America uses only these approved platforms. Its APAC tab gives practice time on HireVue first.
Bank of America: approved platformsPractice out loud, before the real video
Soreno's AI interviewer asks one question at a time, scores your answer, then follows up like a final-round interviewer. Free for 7 days.
Questions people ask
Does Bank of America use HireVue?
Yes. Bank of America lists HireVue among its approved interview platforms, with Teams, Webex and Zoom, and its APAC page gives you practice time on HireVue before the real questions.
How long is the Bank of America video interview?
About 20 to 30 minutes in the US and Canada. Each question gives you 30 seconds to prepare and up to three minutes to answer, and Bank of America says to expect to use at least 1:45 per answer.
What questions does Bank of America ask in the video interview?
It says they are fairly typical, primarily behavioral and open-ended, and may cover your projects or experiences. It wants to learn who you are and your interest in the program.
Can I use notes in the Bank of America HireVue?
Yes. Bank of America says it's okay to write down points you want to touch on, as long as you don't read straight from the page like a script.
What is the Bank of America final round?
It varies by line of business but typically includes interviews with people from the business area you applied to. Bank of America doesn't publish how many.
How many Bank of America programs can I apply to?
In the US and Canada you can apply to one office and one division per year. If you are declined for the summer program, you can apply for the full-time program the following year.
Can I defer a Bank of America offer?
Typically not, it says, though exceptions may be considered case by case.