Trade Finance

FirstBank UK is a specialist international bank - the oldest African bank in the UK - where heritage meets innovation. We provide world class international banking and trading services, facilitating trade between Africa and Europe from our offices in London and Lagos. We’re proud to serve communities with trusted financial solutions, rooted in integrity, excellence and a deep commitment to global prosperity.

The FirstBank UK Summer Internship Programme offers the chance to gain unparalleled insight into the inner workings of an international bank. You’ll work closely with everyone from your fellow interns to C-Suite executives, developing your skills quickly through structured training opportunities and meaningful, hands-on experience. This fast-paced, 10-week internship is in our London offices and gives you real ownership of your work, enabling you to make a real impact from day one. By the end of the programme, you will have developed strong skills in your chosen role, and essential professional skills, including commercial awareness, personal accountability, and workplace confidence - skills that are essential for a future career at FirstBank UK and in the financial services sector. Successful interns may be able to return as full-time team members of our team upon completion of their studies, subject to performance and business need.

The Trade Finance Internship

Trade Finance is the backbone of modern commerce – every time a product moves from one country to another, trade finance professionals work to ensure the transaction runs smoothly, that any risk is adequately managed and that settlements are made. Trade finance involves working with various financial instruments and products to facilitate international trade. This might involve liaising with exporters, importers, suppliers, manufacturers, banks, and other financial institutions to provide financing solutions that enable companies to conduct trade across borders.

Core activities include:

• Processing Letters of Credit, Guarantees, and Bills for Collection.
• Conducting compliance and due diligence checks (AML/CTF).
• Managing operational risk and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.

The team is structured around key workflow stages: Initiation, Negotiation (Docs), and Settlement.

Primary Responsibilities

• Uploading and managing shipping documents on the Traydstream platform.
• Conducting trade finance compliance and due diligence checks (AML/CTF) using Refinitiv World-Check, Lloyd’s List Intelligence, and Eastnets Dual Use Goods.
• Preparing letters of credit advices and arranging dispatch of shipping documents.
• Processing cash-covered letters of credit and bills for collection documents.
• You must act as a Company Ambassador, to deliver good outcomes to retail customers.

What we look for

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Banking, Finance, or a related field.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• A strong team player who is proactive, responsive, and who can thrive in a collaborative environment.
• Strong analytical and reasoning skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (basic formulas, VLOOKUP, pivot tables), PowerPoint, Word, and Teams.
• Familiarity with AI tools such as Copilot and foundational customer service skills are desirable.

Application requirements

This programme is for undergraduate students who are in their penultimate year, with an expected graduation in Summer 2027. You must be available for the full duration of the programme: Monday 22nd June until Friday 28th August 2026.