20 M&T Bank Interview Questions and Answers

M&T Bank is one of the leading banks in the US, and they are always looking for talented and ambitious employees. If you are lucky enough to get an interview with them, you will want to be prepared with answers to some common company specific interview questions. Here are some tips to help you prepare.

M&T Bank Interview Process

The interview process at M&T Bank can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two interviews, one of which may be a skills-based interview. The length of the hiring process can also vary, but it is typically not longer than a few weeks. Overall, the interview experience is generally positive, with interviewers being friendly and helpful.

1. Please tell me about yourself.

This is a common question that interviewers ask to get to know you better. They want to see if your personality and skills match the job description. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about yourself while also highlighting your strengths.

Example: “I’m an energetic person who loves working with others. I have excellent communication skills and am always willing to help someone in need. I graduated from college with a degree in business management and worked as a bank teller for five years before moving up to my current role as a customer service representative.”

2. Why do you want to work at M&T Bank?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and company. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few specific aspects of M&T Bank that you admire or find interesting.

Example: “I want to work at M&T Bank because I am impressed by its commitment to customer service and innovation. For example, I read about how you recently launched M-Pesa, which allows customers to send money through their mobile phones. This seems like a great way to make banking more convenient for customers.”

3. What is your greatest strength and weakness as a banker?

This question is a common interview question that allows you to highlight your strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the skills you have developed over time or those that are natural for you.

Example: “My greatest strength as a banker is my ability to work well with others. I am naturally empathetic and enjoy helping people solve their financial problems. My weakness is that sometimes I get so focused on solving a problem that I forget to ask questions. This has led me to make mistakes in the past, but I’ve learned how important it is to communicate effectively.”

4. Describe a time when you had to manage multiple tasks, how did you prioritize the tasks?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you manage your time and prioritize tasks. Use examples from previous work experiences to show that you are organized, efficient and able to meet deadlines.

Example: “In my last role as a customer service representative, I had to answer calls while also processing transactions online. To ensure I was providing excellent customer service, I would take notes on each call so I could address any concerns or questions they may have after we hung up. This helped me provide better service to customers and ensured I didn’t forget any important information.”

5. How would you handle an angry customer who was upset with their transaction?

Customer service is an important part of working in banking. Interviewers want to know that you can handle customer complaints and resolve them quickly. Use examples from your previous experience where you helped customers with their transactions or accounts.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they didn’t receive the funds they were expecting on their account. I listened to what they were saying, asked questions to clarify the issue and then looked up their transaction history to see if there was any information I could provide. After looking at their records, I realized that the funds hadn’t been deposited yet but would be available by the end of the day. The customer was happy when I explained the situation.”

6. Tell us about a time that you were able to improve upon the standard way of doing things.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the process you changed and how it benefited the company or organization.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that we were using multiple systems for customer service inquiries. This was causing confusion among our team members who had to use several different programs to answer questions from customers. I suggested that we consolidate all of our customer service inquiries into one program so that everyone could access the information they needed in one place. We implemented this change, which saved us time and money while improving customer satisfaction.”

7. As a bank manager it will be important for you to have excellent communication skills. Can you give us an example of when you demonstrated good communication in a previous job?

This question is an opportunity for you to show the interviewer that you have strong communication skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of when you used your communication skills to solve a problem or help someone.

Example: “In my last job as a bank teller, I had a customer who was having trouble with their account. They were trying to make a large deposit but kept getting an error message. After talking with them about what they were doing and asking some questions, we realized that they needed to update their banking information before making the deposit. We talked through how to do that and then they made the deposit successfully.”

8. Can you provide an example of a situation where you could’ve made a better decision?

This question is a great way to learn more about how you make decisions and what factors influence your choices. It’s important to be honest in your answer, as the interviewer will likely want to know that you’re willing to take responsibility for any mistakes you’ve made in the past.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for approving loans for our customers. One day, I received an application from a customer who wanted to borrow money to start their own business. They had excellent credit history and were able to provide all of the necessary documentation. However, I decided not to approve their loan because they didn’t have enough collateral to secure the loan.

Unfortunately, two weeks later, I found out that the customer had filed bankruptcy. If I had approved their loan, it would’ve been possible to recover some of the losses we incurred.”

9. What are some ways that you stay up-to-date on banking regulations?

M&T Bank employees must be able to stay up-to-date on banking regulations. This is because they need to ensure that the bank’s customers are protected and that the company stays in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. When you answer this question, make sure to mention some specific resources you use to learn about new regulations.

Example: “I am a member of several professional organizations for bankers. These organizations often send out emails when there are changes to banking regulations. I also subscribe to newsletters from the Federal Reserve and the FDIC.”

10. What do you know about M&T Bank’s history?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its past. Interviewers ask this question to see if you have researched their organization before coming in for an interview. To answer this question, research M&T Bank’s history online or by asking someone who works there.

Example: “M&T Bank was founded in 1856 as Manufacturers and Traders National Bank. It became one of the first banks to open branches outside New York City when it opened a branch in Buffalo in 1871. In 2005, M&T acquired First Niagara Financial Group, which made it the largest bank in upstate New York. The acquisition also gave them access to new markets like Pennsylvania and Florida.”

11. Do you have any experience working with loans?

This question is a great way to determine if you have the experience needed for this role. If you don’t, it’s okay to explain that you’re willing to learn and develop your skills in this area.

Example: “I’ve never worked with loans before, but I’m eager to learn more about them. I understand that M&T Bank offers many different types of loans, so I would be excited to learn how to help customers apply for these loans.”

12. What kind of experience do you have selling financial products?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience level and how you might fit into their organization. If you have no direct sales experience, consider describing a time when you helped someone else sell products or services.

Example: “I’ve worked in customer service for five years now, but I also spent two summers working as a sales associate at a local boutique. There, I learned about different styles and trends that would appeal to our customers. This knowledge has helped me provide excellent customer service to my clients.”

13. If I called your last supervisor what would they say is your greatest strength? Weakness?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s work history and how they’ve developed their skills. It also helps you understand what they value in an employee.

Example: “My last supervisor would say that my greatest strength is my ability to think outside of the box when solving problems. I have found that many people are stuck on one solution, but there are often multiple ways to solve a problem. My weakness is that sometimes I get so excited about finding a new solution that I forget to communicate it effectively to others.”

14. Would you consider yourself a detail oriented person?

Detail orientation is an important skill for customer service representatives. It’s your job to ensure that all of the information you collect from customers is accurate and complete. Detail orientation also helps you stay organized, which can be helpful when working in a fast-paced environment. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to highlight how much attention you pay to detail in your daily life.

Example: “I consider myself a very detail oriented person. I always double check my work before submitting it, whether it’s an assignment or a deposit slip. In fact, I’ve been told by many of my professors that I’m one of their best students because of my attention to detail.”

15. What has been your biggest achievement so far?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleague and how they view their own success. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss an achievement that relates to the position you’re interviewing for.

Example: “My biggest professional accomplishment so far was when I helped my previous employer increase its customer satisfaction rating by 10%. This was a challenging goal, but we were able to achieve it through our team’s hard work and dedication. It was rewarding to see all of our efforts pay off.”

16. Explain a time when you received negative feedback from a client or manager. How did you respond?

This question can help interviewers understand how you respond to constructive criticism and learn from your mistakes. Use examples of times when you received negative feedback, but also used it as an opportunity to improve yourself or your work.

Example: “When I first started working in customer service, I was so excited to be helping customers that I would sometimes forget to ask them if they had any questions before ending the call. One day, a client called me back because she didn’t feel like I answered all her questions during our initial call. She explained that she felt rushed and wanted more time to think about what I told her. After this happened, I made sure to always make sure I asked my clients if they have any questions at the end of each call.”

17. Have you ever disagreed with a boss’ decision? How did you handle the disagreement?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and whether you’re able to disagree with authority. When answering, it’s important to show that you can respectfully disagree with a supervisor or manager without being disrespectful.

Example: “In my last role as an assistant manager at a restaurant, I disagreed with the owner’s decision to hire a new server who had no experience in our restaurant. The owner hired her because she was friends with the head chef, but I felt like this could be a problem for our team. Instead of voicing my concerns directly to the owner, I spoke with the general manager about my concerns. We decided to train the new employee together so we could provide support.”

18. Provide an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even though they may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. It’s important that you demonstrate the importance of teamwork in this role, so it’s best to choose an example where you were able to successfully collaborate with someone who may not have liked you or vice versa.

Example: “In my previous position as a teller at a local bank, I had a customer who would come into the branch every day and ask me for help with their account. They would always be very rude to me, but I knew they needed our services, so I was always willing to assist them. After several weeks of assisting them, they finally apologized for being rude and thanked me for all of my help.”

19. How do you make sure that information is properly communicated to others?

This question can help interviewers understand how you share information with your team and other important stakeholders. Use examples from past experiences to show that you know how to communicate effectively.

Example: “I make sure I have a clear understanding of the message before I relay it to others. If there are any questions, I’ll ask for clarification so I can ensure everyone understands what’s expected of them. In my last role, I was responsible for communicating new policies to employees. I made sure I understood the policy myself first, then held meetings with each department to explain the changes.”

20. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential future employer. It’s also an opportunity for you to show that you’re ambitious and eager to grow in your career. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of what you want to accomplish in the next five years. Consider how working at M&T Bank could help you achieve those goals.

Example: “I see myself as a senior manager at M&T Bank by the time I’m 30. I would love to have helped develop new products or services that are helping customers save money. I’d like to continue growing my skills as a leader and mentor so I can inspire others to do their best work.”