How do I choose the right banking course for my goals?

Start by identifying the banking sector you're interested in—retail banking, investment banking, risk and compliance, or digital/FinTech innovations. For an introduction to how banks work, try Introduction to Banking from the Corporate Finance Institute. Interested in investment banking? Consider Financial Markets by Yale or Investment Banking: Financial Analysis and Valuation from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For digital transformation and FinTech roles, explore Digital Transformation in Financial Services by Copenhagen Business School.

Which banking course should I start with as a beginner?

These beginner-friendly courses are great for learners new to the banking sector: Introduction to Banking – Covers how banks operate, interest rates, and core banking products. Financial Markets – Taught by Nobel Laureate Robert Shiller, this course introduces financial systems, risk, and banking institutions. Economics of Money and Banking – A foundational look at how money, central banks, and lending work together.

What’s the difference between a banking course, Specialization, and Professional Certificate?

A course teaches a focused topic—like credit analysis, bank operations, or compliance, such as Fundamentals of Credit Analysis . A Specialization bundles several courses for progressive mastery—such as Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts Specialization . A Professional Certificate (less common for banking alone) may be part of broader training in finance, data analytics, or FinTech—such as Google Data Analytics Certificate or IBM Data Analyst Certificate , which are relevant in modern banking roles.

Can I take free banking courses on Coursera?

Yes. You can start learning banking topics on Coursera for free in two ways: Preview the first module of many banking courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available). Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial. If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in banking topics, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn banking?

The skills and experience that you might need to already have before starting to learn banking include an interest in money and financial assets, good analytical skills, attention to detail, a strong technology background, and an understanding of institutional finance. As banking continues to grow more digital and online by the day, more banks are looking for people who know how technology is impacting the business of handling money. So it might be helpful to learn computer programming and financial modeling concepts before starting to learn banking. Personality skills that would be useful to have before learning banking could include an ability to handle stress, to work well with others, and have confidence in dealing with retail banking customers.

Best Banking Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Banking Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Corporate Finance Institute
Introduction to Banking
Skills you'll gain: Banking Services, Financial Statement Analysis, Banking, Financial Analysis, Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Financial Services, Balance Sheet, Customer Analysis, Income Statement, Lending and Underwriting, Investment Banking, Target Market
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
62 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Columbia University
Economics of Money and Banking
Skills you'll gain: International Finance, Derivatives, Financial Systems, Balance Sheet, Financial Market, Payment Systems, Banking, Capital Markets, Economics, Market Liquidity, Financial Regulation, Finance, Market Dynamics
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Mixed · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Yale University
Financial Markets
Skills you'll gain: Investment Banking, Risk Management, Financial Market, Financial Regulation, Financial Services, Finance, Business Risk Management, Securities (Finance), Financial Policy, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Capital Markets, Behavioral Economics, Banking, Corporate Finance, Governance, Investments, Insurance, Underwriting, Derivatives, Market Dynamics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
31K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Banking and Financial Institutions
Skills you'll gain: Financial Systems, Banking, Risk Management, Financial Regulation, FinTech, Retail Banking, Financial Regulations, Financial Services, Commercial Banking, Operational Risk, Credit Risk, Payment Systems, Financial Market, Balance Sheet
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
261 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Investment Banking: Financial Analysis and Valuation
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Investment Banking, Financial Forecasting, Business Valuation, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Corporate Finance, Forecasting, Cash Flows, Benchmarking, Spreadsheet Software
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
179 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Skills you'll gain: Return On Investment, Capital Budgeting, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Business Valuation, Financial Management, Asset Management, Cash Flows, Risk Analysis, Cash Flow Forecasting, Working Capital
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: Free Trial
PwC
Data-driven Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Analytics, Business Analytics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Intelligence, Data Literacy, Big Data, Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Statistical Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Data Visualization Software, R Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Fintech: Foundations & Applications of Financial Technology
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Portfolio Management, Consumer Lending, Return On Investment, Blockchain, Cryptography, Credit/Debit Card Processing, Digital Assets, Financial Services, Payment Processing, Investments, Lending and Underwriting, Investment Management, Technology Strategies, Emerging Technologies, Risk Analysis, Fundraising and Crowdsourcing, Financial Market, Financial Analysis, Market Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Knowledge Accelerators
From Excel to Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Modeling, Dashboard, Data Import/Export, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Excel, Business Intelligence, Business Analytics, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Transformation, Data Sharing, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
New York Institute of Finance
Credit Risk Management: Frameworks and Strategies
Skills you'll gain: Credit Risk, Risk Mitigation, Risk Management, Derivatives, Risk Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Market, Financial Statement Analysis, Portfolio Management, Market Trend, Cash Flows, Balance Sheet
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
378 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
INSEAD
Blockchain, Cryptoassets, and Decentralized Finance
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, Digital Assets, FinTech, Business Modeling, Financial Systems, Emerging Technologies, Business Transformation, Distributed Computing, Transaction Processing, Identity and Access Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
380 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations
Skills you'll gain: Payment Systems, Payment Processing, FinTech, Blockchain, Mobile Banking, Fundraising and Crowdsourcing, Credit/Debit Card Processing, Banking Services, Emerging Technologies, Investment Management, Wealth Management, Payment Processing and Collection, Asset Management, Point of Sale, Fundraising, Capital Markets, Consumer Lending, Credit Risk, Financial Trading, Market Dynamics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months