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, 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
61 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
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
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: New
Universidad de Palermo
Business Intelligence & Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Business Intelligence, Data Governance, Data Storytelling, Business Analytics, Looker (Software), Data Visualization, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Business Metrics, Data Modeling, Data Warehousing, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Digital Transformation, Emerging Technologies, Star Schema, Data Mart, Talent Management, Team Building, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Architecture
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
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
178 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
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: New
Starweaver
Credit Risk Analysis and Underwriting
Skills you'll gain: Credit Risk, Lending and Underwriting, Underwriting, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Business Risk Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Corporate Finance, Financial Modeling, Stakeholder Communications, Performance Measurement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flows
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mergers and Acquisitions
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Investment Banking, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Valuation, Financial Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Capital Markets, Financial Modeling, Corporate Accounting, Price Negotiation, Financial Accounting, Corporate Tax, Accounting, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Investments, Corporate Strategy, Financial Management, Corporate Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
558 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Goldman Sachs
Fundamentals of Business Finance, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Analysis, Small Business Accounting, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Business Planning, Financial Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Instructor Network
Foundational Banking and Financial Services Skills in India
Skills you'll gain: Banking, Regulatory Compliance, Commercial Banking, Compliance Management, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Investment Banking, Financial Services, Bank Regulations, Operational Efficiency, Risk Management, Operational Analysis, FinTech, Front Office, Business Operations
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks