Local branches, digital platforms, compliance, actuarial science: banking and insurance employ more than half a million people in France and train tens of thousands of young people every year. In 2026, an apprenticeship remains the most direct way into a sector that is hiring — and that often takes on the very people it has trained.
In short: banks belonging to the Fédération bancaire française counted around 19,780 apprentices in 2024, and insurance companies 7,100 apprentices at the end of 2025 — nearly 27,000 young people under contract across the two industries. Courses run from BTS to master's level, employment outcomes are solid (38% conversion within the host company in banking) and pay often exceeds the legal minimum thanks to collective agreements.
Why choose banking or insurance as an apprentice?
Both industries share the same equation: a wave of retirements, rapid digital transformation and ever more demanding regulation. As a result, they hire continuously and rely on apprenticeships to train people who are operational from day one.
The figures confirm it. The Fédération bancaire française recorded 373,600 employees across member banks in 2024, with 38,600 hires over the year and 19,780 apprentices on the payroll. On the insurance side, the Observatoire de l'évolution des métiers de l'assurance puts the sector at 162,300 employees at the end of 2025, for 18,400 hires — including 4,500 apprentices signed during the year.
In insurance, apprentices account for almost a quarter of annual hires: apprenticeship is not a sideline, it is the main way into the profession.
One signal worth knowing: the pace is softening slightly. Insurance hiring fell by around 8.6% in 2025 and new apprenticeship contracts by 8.4%. Nothing dramatic, but it pays to apply early and widen your net, as our analysis of the 2026 apprenticeship market shows.
Which roles are hiring in banking and insurance?
Contrary to a common belief, these sectors are neither just the counter nor just the trading floor. Three broad job families concentrate most apprenticeship openings:
- Client relations and the branch network: retail customer adviser, front-desk officer, business adviser, policy administrator, insurance call adviser. This is the largest pool of apprentices.
- Administration and expertise: claims handler, underwriter, credit analyst, compliance officer (KYC, anti-money laundering), internal auditor.
- Technical and data roles: actuary, risk management, data analyst, cybersecurity, digital project manager. These profiles are driving the transformation of both industries.
Employers value rigour, the ability to explain a complex product simply and confident use of digital tools. Browse the apprenticeship careers to spot the speciality that suits you.
Which work-study courses, from BTS to master's?
Banking and insurance mainly recruit from two to three years of higher education onwards, but the path is built in stages, with each level opening specific positions:
| Level | Qualification | Typical role |
|---|---|---|
| Bac+2 | BTS Banque – conseiller de clientèle · BTS Assurance · BTS NDRC | Front-desk officer, policy administrator |
| Bac+3 | BUT GEA · BUT Techniques de commercialisation · Licence pro banque-assurance | Retail customer adviser |
| Bac+3/+5 | Bachelor's and grande école programme (finance, management) | Business adviser, account manager |
| Bac+5 | Master's in banking and finance · insurance · risk management | Credit analyst, underwriter, compliance |
| Bac+5 | Master's in actuarial science / statistics / data | Actuary, data analyst, risk manager |
All of these qualifications can be taken under an apprenticeship contract (contrat d'apprentissage) or a professional training contract (contrat de professionnalisation), in an industry CFA or a partner school. To choose between the two, read our guide on apprenticeship or professional training contract.
How much does an apprentice earn, and what support is available?
Pay follows the statutory apprenticeship scale: a percentage of the SMIC that rises with age and year of contract. Banks and insurers frequently apply higher collective-agreement minimums, sometimes topped up with a 13th month, a profit-sharing bonus or meal vouchers. To find out your exact take-home pay, use the pay calculator.
On top of that come the financial aid schemes open to every apprentice: housing support, mobility grants, and the "carte d'étudiant des métiers" student card. Enough to secure a moving-in budget, often necessary when the company's head office sits in a major city.
How to land your apprenticeship in 2026
The sector hires all year round, but the September intake campaigns are decided as early as spring. A few decisive habits:
- Apply early and widely. Banking networks, mutual insurers, brokers, insurance companies, asset management firms: check the apprenticeship offers every week.
- Play up your client-facing experience. Time spent in sales, reception or customer service is worth its weight in gold on a future adviser's CV.
- Prepare for the tests and the interview. Recruiters assess rigour, ethics and clarity of expression: practise with our tips on how to succeed in your apprenticeship interview.
- Stay mobile. Accepting a branch on the outskirts rather than in the city centre multiplies your chances of signing.
A sector that trains, that hires the people it trains and that offers fast career progression: banking and insurance deserve a serious place in your search plan for the 2026 intake.