THE 20 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
SECTION A — Introduction
Q1. Could you please introduce yourself - your name, designation, qualifications,
and how long you have been working in the banking industry?
Q2. Could you briefly describe your current role and what your day-to-day
responsibilities look like?
SECTION B — Bank Structure & Departments
Q3. Starting with the overall structure of your bank — could you walk us through
the main revenue-generating departments, such as Credit, Asset Management, and
Treasury, and what each one handles on a day-to-day basis?
Q4. And on the control and oversight side, what are the specific functions of
departments like Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management?
Q5. In practice, how does the audit function differ from the compliance function?
As students we sometimes see them grouped together, but I imagine they work
quite differently on the ground.
SECTION C — Products & Services
Q6. What are the main categories of products and services your bank offers — on
both the deposit side and the lending side?
Q7. Among these, which products are currently the most popular or most in
demand with your customers, and what do you think drives that demand?
SECTION D — Loan Pricing
Q8. What are the key determinants that are considered when pricing a loan — for
instance, what factors decide whether one borrower gets a different rate than
another?
Q9. How does the SBP policy rate directly influence your loan pricing decisions?
When the policy rate changes, how quickly does that filter down to the rates
customers actually see?
SECTION E — Risk Evaluation
Q10. How does the bank evaluate the risk profile of an individual applying for a
personal or consumer loan - what does that assessment process look like from start
to finish, and does it change for larger exposures like home loans or business
financing?
Q11. Does the bank use any credit scoring models, automated screening tools, or
technology during the risk assessment process, and how reliable have these been
compared to manual evaluation?
SECTION F — Non-Performing Loans
Q12. What specific actions does the bank take once a loan is classified as non-
performing - could you walk us through the recovery process step by step?
Q13. What strategies does the bank use on the front end to prevent loans from
becoming non-performing in the first place?
Q14. When a borrower is struggling but still showing intent to repay, does the bank
offer restructuring or rescheduling options? How does that process work in
practice?
SECTION G — Economic Conditions & Challenges
Q15. How are the current economic conditions in Pakistan such as inflation,
currency fluctuation, and interest rate changes affecting the day-to-day operations
of your bank?
Q16. What would you say are the biggest operational or strategic challenges your
bank is facing right now?
Q17. Where do you see banking in Pakistan heading in the next five to ten years
both in terms of opportunities and risks?
SECTION H — Digital Banking & Fintech
Q18. How is digital banking transforming your operations? Are customers
genuinely shifting toward mobile banking, online services, and platforms like
Raast?
Q19. Does your bank view fintech companies as competitors or as potential
partners? Has the bank collaborated with any fintech firms or developed any in-
house digital solutions?
Q20. As someone studying Financial Technology specifically, I would love your
honest perspective - what skills, certifications, or experiences should I focus on
right now if I want to be genuinely useful to a bank like yours when I graduate?