What are the best banking courses online?

Browse the banking courses below—popular starting points on Coursera. Introduction to Banking: Corporate Finance Institute Banking and Financial Institutions: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Economics of Money and Banking: Columbia University Credit Risk Modeling & its Application in Banks: EDUCBA Financial Markets: Yale University Investment Banking: Financial Analysis and Valuation: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Introduction to Corporate Finance: University of Pennsylvania

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.

Top Banking Courses - Learn Banking Online

Explore the Banking Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Corporate Finance Institute
Introduction to Banking
Skills you'll gain: Banking Services, Banking, Financial Analysis, Financial Statements, Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Financial Services, Balance Sheet, Customer Analysis, Income Statement, Lending and Underwriting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
72 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Banking and Financial Institutions
Skills you'll gain: Bank Regulations, Financial Systems, Banking, Risk Management, Financial Regulation, FinTech, Retail Banking, Financial Services, Commercial Banking, Operational Risk, Credit Risk, Payment Systems, Financial Market, Balance Sheet
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
269 reviews
Intermediate · 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: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Investment Banking: Financial Analysis and Valuation
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Investment Banking, Financial Forecasting, Business Valuation, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Corporate Finance, Forecasting, Cash Flows, Benchmarking
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
197 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 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), Capital Markets, Behavioral Economics, Banking, Corporate Finance, Governance, Insurance, Underwriting, Derivatives, Market Dynamics, Mortgage Loans
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
31K reviews
Beginner · 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, Corporate Finance, Business Valuation, Financial Management, Cost Benefit Analysis, Financial Acumen, Asset Management, Cash Flows, Risk Analysis, Cash Flow Forecasting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: Preview
Knowledge Accelerators
From Excel to Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Data Modeling, Data Visualization, Power BI, Data Visualization Software, Dashboard, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Import/Export, Data Analysis, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Synthesis, Business Intelligence, Data Transformation, Trend Analysis, Data Sharing, Excel Formulas, Business Analytics, Microsoft 365
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Geneva
Investment Management
Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Wealth Management, Risk Management, Investment Management, Financial Market, Capital Markets, Risk Analysis, Asset Management, Performance Measurement, Investments, Market Dynamics, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Financial Planning, Finance, Equities, Performance Analysis, Derivatives, FinTech, Financial Forecasting, Economics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Università Bocconi
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain: Private Equity, Business Valuation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Investments, Financial Management, Legal Risk, Financial Modeling, Tax Laws, Entrepreneurship, Due Diligence, Negotiation
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.9K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Discounted Cash Flow Modeling
Skills you'll gain: Financial Forecasting, Business Valuation, Equities, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Finance, Cash Flows, Investment Banking, Accounting, Capital Markets
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
775 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Investment Risk Management
Skills you'll gain: Investment Management, Risk Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Management, Risk Analysis, Portfolio Management, Financial Market, Investments, Return On Investment, Statistics
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mergers and Acquisitions
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Investment Banking, Financial Statement Analysis, Intercompany Accounting, Business Valuation, Financial Statements, Financial Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Capital Markets, Financial Modeling, Price Negotiation, Financial Accounting, Corporate Tax, Accounting, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Investments, Corporate Strategy, Financial Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
594 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months