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Investment banks’ headcount holds steady after years of cuts

Investment Banking Editor

Investment banks' latest headcount figures are showing more positive signs for the sector

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The world’s biggest investment banks have kept headcount steady over the past 12 months after years of deep cuts as deals and trading revenue surges.

Overall front office employee numbers at the top investment banks stood at 51,000 at the end of the first half of 2025, according to numbers provided to 

Front office staff numbers at the world’s biggest lenders have remained largely stable

Paul Clarke

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