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September 6, 2026

FT Partners Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

FT Partners internships in 2027–2028: the elite fintech IB Summer Analyst program, $110K annualized, 3.7 GPA bar, and tips.

Written by:

Bifei Wang

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College student walking through the Financial District of San Francisco on a summer morning, modern glass office towers
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Last updated: September 2026

FT Partners is the only investment bank focused exclusively on financial technology, and its Summer Analyst program is one of the most selective in banking: just 3–8 interns per class competing for seats that pay $110,000 annualized with a roughly 70–75% conversion rate to full-time offers. The firm’s 140+ fintech bankers have advised on landmark deals including Deribit’s $4.3 billion sale to Coinbase, Revolut’s $1.3 billion financing at a $33 billion valuation, and AvidXchange’s $2.2 billion sale to TPG. Summer 2027 applications closed in May 2026; the summer 2028 cycle is expected to open in fall 2026. The eight-week program runs from early June through late July at the San Francisco or New York office, and candidates need a 3.7 GPA minimum and a 1400 SAT or 30 ACT to clear the first filter.

Quick Facts

FactDetail
Where to applyftpartners.com/careers and the Greenhouse board. Set up a Greenhouse job alert for posting notifications
Application window (2027–28)Summer 2027 cycle closed May 2026. Summer 2028 applications expected to open September–December 2026 based on prior-cycle patterns
Rolling?No. FT Partners opens applications for a defined window (approximately December to May based on the 2027 cycle) and reviews within that window
EligibilityUndergrad or Master’s graduating December 2027–June 2028; finance or accounting major preferred; 3.7 cumulative GPA minimum; 1400 SAT / 30 ACT strongly preferred; permanent US work authorization required (no visa sponsorship)
Duration8 weeks (early June through late July); London office runs a separate 6-month program
Compensation$110,000/year annualized per the official JD; Superday AI estimates ~$2,700/week. Dinner provided, car service available. No housing stipend
LocationsSan Francisco (HQ) and New York. Apply to one office only. London runs a separate cycle
# ProgramsSummer Analyst (US, 8 weeks), Summer IBD Analyst (London, 6 months), Full-Time Analyst tracks (IBD, Sponsor Coverage, Strategic Insights, Special Executions)

The two numbers that matter: 3–8 seats per summer class and a 3.7 GPA hard minimum. Apply the day the Greenhouse posting goes live and have your SAT/ACT scores ready, because FT Partners uses both as early filters.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship and the HP Tech Ventures Deal Sourcing & Startup Analysis Externship build the financial modeling and strategic analysis evidence an FT Partners application needs. Explore all Externships.


What Is a FT Partners Internship?

An FT Partners internship is a paid, eight-week Summer Analyst placement at the only investment bank focused exclusively on financial technology. Founded in 2001 by Steve McLaughlin, formerly of Goldman Sachs’ Financial Technology Group, the firm employs 250+ professionals including 140+ fintech bankers across offices in San Francisco, New York, London, and Miami. Summer Analysts are included in all aspects of a transaction from origination to closing: financial modeling, company valuation, due diligence, strategic analysis, and preparation of management presentations and offering memorandums. Each analyst is matched with a Peer Mentor and a Senior Mentor for career development. The firm has advised on landmark deals including Deribit’s $4.3 billion sale to Coinbase and Revolut’s $1.3 billion financing at a $33 billion valuation, and co-authored the BCG Global FinTech Report 2026 finding the sector generated $504 billion in revenue with 22% growth.

College student walking through the Financial District of San Francisco on a summer morning, modern glass office towers

When Do FT Partners Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

FT Partners recruits on a defined cycle rather than rolling admissions. The summer 2027 Summer Analyst posting opened in December 2025 and closed in May 2026, placing the application window roughly six to nine months before the June start. The firm’s interview process includes a mandatory 30-minute cognitive and personality assessment, virtual technical and behavioral rounds, and in-person final interviews with bankers of all levels. With only 3–8 seats per class, the process is highly selective: a 3.7 GPA and a 1400 SAT or 30 ACT are hard filters, and the firm explicitly prohibits the use of GenAI tools during interviews. The summer 2028 cycle is expected to open in fall 2026 based on the historical pattern.

Now · September 2026YOU ARE HERE

Summer 2027 applications are closed (the posting closed May 2026). The summer 2028 cycle is expected to open in fall 2026. Set up a Greenhouse job alert at job-boards.greenhouse.io/financialtechnologypartners now so you are notified the day the posting goes live. Use this runway to build fintech modeling skills and read FT Partners’ quarterly FinTech Insights reports.

The Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship and the HP Tech Ventures Deal Sourcing Externship are remote, real-company projects that give a fall 2026 application finished work to point at.
September–December 2026EXPECTED

Summer 2028 Summer Analyst posting expected to go live on the Greenhouse board based on the 2027 cycle (opened December 2025). Submit your resume, cover letter, transcripts, and SAT or ACT scores. Apply to only one office: San Francisco or New York.

November 2026 to February 2027EXPECTED

All applicants complete a mandatory 30-minute cognitive and personality assessment. First-round virtual interviews cover DCF, valuation, fintech business models, and behavioral questions. Final-round interviews are in-person with bankers of all levels. Professional references are collected as the last step.

January to March 2027EXPECTED

Offers extended after final rounds. With only 3–8 seats, each candidate is evaluated as a potential long-term team member. Return-offer decisions for the current summer class are delivered in the final week of the program.

Summer 2028

Eight weeks, early June through late July 2028. Direct work on live fintech M&A and capital raising transactions: financial modeling, company valuation, due diligence, strategic analysis, and preparation of management presentations.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

FT Partners takes only 3–8 summer analysts per class, making it one of the smallest and most selective internship programs in investment banking. The firm’s exclusive fintech focus means every seat matters: interviewers test for genuine sector knowledge alongside standard IB technicals, and the 3.7 GPA and 1400 SAT filters eliminate most applicants before the interview stage. The 30-minute cognitive assessment is mandatory and administered immediately after application, so candidates who treat it as an afterthought are eliminated before they reach a human interviewer. Proactive networking with FT Partners bankers before the posting goes live is the most effective path to an interview, because the firm recruits through targeted outreach more than mass applications. With a roughly 70–75% conversion rate to full-time analyst offers, the internship is effectively an eight-week interview for a career in fintech banking. Do not wait until January to apply for something that may post in September or October.

Which FT Partners Internship Programs Should You Target?

FT Partners offers a focused set of early-career programs, all centered on fintech investment banking. The Summer Analyst program is the primary internship pathway, with full-time analyst tracks available for conversion or lateral hires.

ProgramFocusDurationKey details
Summer Analyst, Investment Banking (US)Fintech M&A advisory, capital raising, valuation, due diligence8 weeks$110K annualized; San Francisco or New York; 3–8 seats per class
Summer IBD Analyst (London)Fintech advisory on UK and European transactions6 monthsLondon West End office; separate cycle from US program
Full-Time Analyst, IBDFintech M&A and capital raising execution2–3 yearsPrimary conversion path from Summer Analyst; SF, NY, London
Full-Time Analyst, Sponsor CoverageFinancial sponsor relationship management2–3 yearsSan Francisco; July 2027 start cohort
Full-Time Analyst, Strategic InsightsResearch-driven fintech advisory and market intelligence2–3 yearsSan Francisco; July 2027 start cohort
Full-Time Analyst, Special ExecutionsSpecialized deal structuring and execution2–3 yearsNew York; July 2027 start cohort

See all openings on the FT Partners Greenhouse board. The US Summer Analyst program is the primary internship entry point and pipelines directly into the full-time IBD analyst role, with roughly 70–75% of summer analysts converting.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

FT Partners publishes detailed eligibility requirements in its Summer Analyst job description. The bar is higher than most IB summer programs:

Enrollment: undergraduate or Master’s student with a graduation date of December 2027 through June 2028.

GPA: minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA. This is a hard filter, not a preference. FT Partners also strongly prefers a 1400 SAT or 30 ACT score, submitted as part of the application.

Major: finance or accounting major preferred. Strong quantitative and technical skills required.

Work authorization: permanent US work authorization required. FT Partners will not sponsor applicants for work visas at application or in the future.

Application materials: resume, cover letter, latest transcripts, and SAT or ACT score report. Apply to one office only (San Francisco or New York).

Overhead close-up of a tidy desk staged for a finance interview, a printed resume resting on a closed notebook next to a

Why Does FT Partners Require SAT/ACT Scores?

FT Partners is one of the few investment banks that requires standardized test scores as part of the intern application. The 1400 SAT / 30 ACT preference, combined with the 3.7 GPA minimum and a mandatory 30-minute cognitive assessment, creates a multi-layered quantitative filter that reflects the firm’s emphasis on analytical rigor. The cognitive assessment is part cognitive and part personality-based and is administered immediately after application submission. If your SAT or ACT score is below the preference threshold but your GPA and experience are strong, apply anyway: the JD says “strongly preferred,” not “required,” for the test scores.

What Skills Does FT Partners Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

FT Partners’ Summer Analyst JD is explicit about the skills it values: financial modeling, company valuation, and strategic analysis sit at the top, followed by research capability and presentation skills. The firm’s exclusive fintech focus means sector-specific knowledge (payments infrastructure, SaaS metrics, digital banking models) is tested in interviews alongside standard IB technicals. With 140+ fintech bankers and an apprenticeship-based training model, the firm expects summer analysts to contribute to live transactions from day one.

What FT Partners looks for in interns

Skills across 3 FT Partners intern & analyst job descriptions · FT Partners 2027 Summer Analyst JD, ftpartners.com/careers program description, and Vault intern reviews

Financial modeling & valuation
100 of 3
Corporate & industry research
100 of 3
Due diligence & strategic analysis
100 of 3
Presentation & pitch materials
100 of 3
Quantitative & technical skills
100 of 3
Data management & research
100 of 3
Written & verbal communication
67 of 3
Fintech sector knowledge
67 of 3

Method: analysis of the FT Partners 2027 Summer Analyst JD (Vaia cache), official careers page program description, and Vault intern reviews. N = 3 source documents. All core JD responsibilities appear in all three sources; sector knowledge and communication are emphasized in two of three.

How Is Demand for Fintech IB Analysts Moving Right Now?

Fintech investment banking analyst hiring: September 2026 hiring right now: September 2026

Across US investment banking intern postings tracked this month · aggregate market data, all employers

=
Thin index for this exact query: Adzuna shows only about 36 live US investment banking intern postings a day (19 a day in August), so read the direction, not the percentage
Advertised pay rose 19.8% to about $86.3K annualized (Adzuna mean advertised salary, September to date vs $72.1K in August)
21.6% of new investment banking intern listings name Summer 2027 in the title (8 of 37 first seen this month, +19.1 pp vs August): the next-cycle wave is posting now

September 2026: the broad intern market is in its fall recruiting surge, but this niche indexes too thinly on Adzuna to call a trend, so treat the company's own board as the signal and apply the week a posting appears.

Method: aggregate analysis of US investment banking intern postings on Adzuna's US index, August average versus September 2026 to date (3 collection days). Sample indexes under half of all US postings; figures show direction and relative level, not total market share.

Build These Skills Before You Apply

And every skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the application window opens.

Skill (from real JDs)JD evidenceExternship that builds it
Financial modeling & valuationSummer Analyst JD: financial modeling, company valuation, financial performance analysis across live fintech transactionsYinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling
Corporate & industry researchSummer Analyst JD: corporate and industry research, strategic analyses of companies, due diligence on fintech targetsHP Tech Ventures Deal Sourcing & Startup Analysis
Data management & analysisSummer Analyst JD: strong data management and research skills, quantitative and technical skills for deal evaluationBreaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis

How close is the overlap? The Yinan Zhao deliverable is financial modeling and valuation analysis in FT Partners’ own vocabulary, and the HP Tech Ventures project builds the strategic analysis and deal evaluation evidence every Summer Analyst JD asks for.

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What Is the FT Partners Application and Interview Process Like?

FT Partners runs a rigorous, multi-stage interview process. Vault intern reviewers describe it as having a “keen focus on technical questions” but note that interviewers are “friendly, welcoming, and easy to talk to.” The firm explicitly prohibits the use of GenAI tools during interviews.

1. Apply at ftpartners.com/careers through the Greenhouse portal. Submit your resume, cover letter, latest transcripts, and SAT or ACT score report. Apply to one office only: San Francisco or New York.

2. Complete the cognitive assessment (immediately after application). A mandatory 30-minute online assessment that is part cognitive and part personality-based. This is a hard filter; candidates who skip it or underperform are eliminated before reaching a human interviewer.

3. First-round virtual interviews (weeks 2–4). Technical and behavioral interviews covering DCF, valuation, fintech business models, and “why fintech / why FT Partners.” Expect questions on payments infrastructure, SaaS metrics, and recent fintech M&A.

4. Final-round in-person interviews (weeks 4–6). Superday-format interviews with bankers of all levels at the San Francisco or New York office. Vault reviewers describe the process as rigorous with a keen focus on fintech-specific technical depth.

5. Professional references and offer (weeks 6–8). FT Partners collects professional references as the final step before extending offers. With only 3–8 seats, decisions are highly selective.

The entire process runs roughly six to eight weeks from application to offer. FT Partners recruits through targeted outreach more than mass applications, so proactive networking with the firm’s bankers before the posting goes live is the most effective path to an interview. Our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool covers the same behavioral-question pressure and format that FT Partners’ virtual rounds test.

What Reddit Says

FT Partners appears in multiple r/FinancialCareers threads where candidates and professionals discuss the firm’s interview process, culture, and positioning against other boutique banks.

A candidate interviewing for a FinTech Strategy Associate role described the experience as one of the strangest in finance, noting the recruiter reportedly counted years since high school graduation out loud. The thread confirms FT Partners’ unconventional recruiting style and high bar for cultural fit. Despite the unusual format, the firm’s reputation for fintech deal flow keeps it on candidate shortlists.

r/Reddit r/recruitinghell, paraphrased · read the thread

A user asked about FT Partners’ culture and whether the firm has designated training, especially in the London office. Community responses discuss the boutique’s lean teams, intense work environment, and apprenticeship-based learning model. The thread confirms that prospective applicants actively seek information about the firm’s training structure before applying.

r/Reddit r/FinancialCareers, paraphrased · read the thread

A candidate comparing FT Partners to William Blair and Torch on work culture, hours, and career trajectory received community feedback positioning FT Partners as a middle-market boutique with a fintech specialization advantage. The thread highlights FT Partners’ niche positioning: smaller than the elite advisory shops but unmatched in fintech deal volume and sector expertise.

r/Reddit r/FinancialCareers, paraphrased · read the thread

How Do You Stand Out at a 3–8 Seat Program With a 3.7 GPA Bar?

Three moves, all executable before the posting goes live. First, demonstrate genuine fintech sector knowledge because FT Partners will test for it. Read the firm’s quarterly FinTech Insights reports and the BCG-FT Partners Global FinTech Report 2026 (both publicly available on ftpartners.com). Discuss specific transactions the firm has advised (Deribit at $4.3 billion, Revolut at $33 billion valuation, AvidXchange at $2.2 billion) and articulate why fintech M&A is distinct from generalist advisory. Second, network proactively with FT Partners bankers on LinkedIn before applications open. With only 3–8 seats, the firm does not run a bulge-bracket recruiting machine; targeted outreach with specific, informed questions about recent deals is the most effective path to an interview. Third, prepare for the cognitive assessment and the SAT/ACT requirement because FT Partners uses both as hard filters that most other banks do not. Practice timed cognitive reasoning tests before applying; candidates who treat the assessment as a formality are eliminated before they reach a human interviewer.

Student studying financial models alone at a small apartment desk at dusk, sitting upright facing a laptop with a spread

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

FT Partners’ peer set spans elite boutique investment banks that compete for the same top analyst talent, particularly candidates interested in fintech, TMT, and technology-focused advisory.

  • Evercoreelite advisory boutique with broad sector coverage and significantly larger analyst classes; stronger brand recognition but less fintech specializationGuide →
  • Lazardglobal advisory and asset management franchise with broader sector coverage; competes for fintech deals but lacks FT Partners’ exclusive focusGuide →
  • Moelis & Companyindependent advisory firm with growing fintech and TMT coverage; similar boutique culture but generalist across sectorsGuide →
  • Centerview Partnersultra-elite boutique with the smallest analyst classes in IB; competes at the top of deal complexity but without fintech specializationGuide →
  • PJT Partnerselite boutique with restructuring strength; less fintech overlap but competes for top analyst talent from the same target schoolsGuide →

Our finance internships summer 2027 guide maps the full landscape of investment banking and financial services opportunities, timeline by timeline.

Two young professionals collaborating around a standing-height table in a bright modern office lounge, one gesturing tow

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 FT Partners internship?

No. The summer 2026 class has already completed, and the summer 2027 cycle closed in May 2026. The next open cycle is summer 2028: based on prior-cycle patterns, FT Partners posts the Summer Analyst role between September and December the year before. Set up a Greenhouse job alert now and apply the day the posting appears.

How much do FT Partners interns get paid?

The 2027 Summer Analyst job description lists an annualized salary of $110,000. Superday AI estimates weekly pay at approximately $2,700, which annualizes higher at about $140,000. Additional perks include dinner provided and car service. Housing is not provided, so interns must arrange their own accommodations in San Francisco or New York.

What GPA do I need for an FT Partners internship?

A minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA is required. FT Partners also strongly prefers a 1400 SAT or 30 ACT score, submitted alongside transcripts as part of the application. These thresholds are higher than most investment banking summer programs, reflecting the firm’s highly selective process for a class of only three to eight summer analysts.

Does FT Partners sponsor visas for interns?

No. The job description explicitly states that permanent US work authorization is required and FT Partners will not sponsor applicants for work visas at application or in the future. International students who require sponsorship cannot apply for the Summer Analyst program.

Where are FT Partners internships located?

San Francisco and New York. The 2027 Summer Analyst posting instructs applicants to submit only one application for either office. San Francisco is the firm’s headquarters in the Financial District near Embarcadero Station. The London office runs a separate, longer six-month internship program with its own application cycle.

What is the FT Partners interview process like?

Expect a mandatory 30-minute cognitive and personality assessment after application, followed by virtual first-round interviews covering DCF, valuation, and fintech business models. Final rounds are in-person with bankers of all levels. Vault reviewers describe the process as rigorous with a keen focus on fintech-specific technical questions. GenAI tools are prohibited during interviews.

Can an FT Partners internship lead to a full-time job?

Yes. Roughly 70 to 75 percent of summer analysts convert to full-time analyst offers according to Superday AI. Return-offer decisions are delivered in the final week of the eight-week program. With only three to eight summer analysts per class, each intern is evaluated as a potential long-term team member rather than one of many.

How long is the FT Partners Summer Analyst program?

Eight weeks, running from early June through late July. The official job description requires an eight-week minimum commitment. Summer Analysts work full-time in person at the San Francisco or New York office. The London office offers a separate six-month program with its own application cycle and timeline.

FT Partners’ 3–8 seat summer class fills through a defined application window and a multi-stage process with hard quantitative filters. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns “interested in fintech banking” into a finished financial modeling or strategic analysis project a fall 2026 application can point at.


About the Author

Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.

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