40 Investment Banking Trivia Questions with Answers
40 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Investment banking trivia examines the institutions, deals, traders, and crises that shaped modern Wall Street. Questions cover the JPMorgan London Whale loss, the rise of junk bonds, the first publicly traded Wall Street investment bank, major mergers such as Vodafone’s acquisition of Mannesmann, and the collapse of Drexel Burnham Lambert.
The category also highlights influential figures and landmark transactions, including the 2012 trader known as the London Whale and the 2021 appointment of the first woman to lead a major Wall Street bank. It is well suited to business students, finance professionals, pub quizzes, and game nights for players who enjoy corporate history and market drama.
Which investment bank became the first publicly traded Wall Street firm in 1970?
Answer
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Which investment bank popularized the use of junk bonds in the 1980s?
Answer
Drexel Burnham Lambert
Who became the first female CEO of a major Wall Street bank in 2021?
Answer
Jane Fraser
Which Swiss bank was acquired by UBS in 2023?
Answer
Credit Suisse
In what year was Bear Stearns founded?
Answer
1923
Who is the Volcker Rule named after?
Answer
Paul Volcker
Which investment bank was founded by Robert F. Greenhill in 1996?
Answer
Greenhill & Co.
Which investment bank was founded in 1910 by the Salomon brothers?
Answer
Salomon Brothers
What was the total asset value of Lehman Brothers at its 2008 bankruptcy?
Answer
$639 billion
What is the term for a ranking of investment banks by underwriting volume?
Answer
League tables
What is the nickname often used for Goldman Sachs?
Answer
The Firm
Who was the CEO of Lehman Brothers when it filed for bankruptcy in 2008?
Answer
Richard Fuld
Which investment bank was founded by Charles Merrill in 1914?
Answer
Merrill Lynch
Which investment banking family financed the British war effort during the Napoleonic Wars?
Answer
Rothschild family
What was the exact size of the 2008 TARP bailout program authorized by Congress?
Answer
$700 billion
What rule prohibits U.S. banks from proprietary trading?
Answer
Volcker Rule
Which investment bank was formed from the split of J.P. Morgan in 1935?
Answer
Morgan Stanley
What is the term for information barriers within financial institutions?
Answer
Chinese wall
Which UK investment bank collapsed in 1995 due to rogue trading?
Answer
Barings Bank
Which hedge fund's collapse in 1998 prompted a Wall Street bailout?
Answer
Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM)
Who was known as the 'Junk Bond King' in the 1980s?
Answer
Michael Milken
Which 2010 financial reform act included the Volcker Rule?
Answer
Dodd-Frank Act
Which 1933 US law separated commercial and investment banking?
Answer
Glass-Steagall Act
Which investment bank was acquired by JPMorgan Chase in 2008?
Answer
Bear Stearns
What is the name of the largest global investment banks often called?
Answer
Bulge bracket
Which US government agency regulates investment banks?
Answer
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
What does M&A stand for in investment banking?
Answer
Mergers and Acquisitions
In what year was Goldman Sachs founded?
Answer
1869
What is the term for a small, specialized investment bank?
Answer
Boutique investment bank
Which investment bank filed for bankruptcy in 2008?
Answer
Lehman Brothers
Investment Banking trivia — quick answers
What are good Investment Banking trivia questions?
Good Investment Banking trivia questions focus on landmark mergers, financial crises, famous traders, major firms, bond innovations, and the history of Wall Street institutions. Questions about JPMorgan’s London Whale, Drexel Burnham Lambert, Vodafone’s Mannesmann deal, and the creation of JPMorgan Chase offer especially recognizable entry points.
How hard is Investment Banking trivia?
Investment Banking trivia is generally medium to difficult. Basic questions may involve famous firms or well-known mergers, while harder ones require knowledge of bankruptcy dates, trading scandals, deal values, financial instruments, and the people who changed the industry.
What was the London Whale trading loss?
The London Whale trading loss was a 2012 scandal involving JPMorgan Chase’s Chief Investment Office. Traders in London accumulated large positions in credit derivatives, and the strategy ultimately produced a loss of about $6.2 billion. The episode prompted regulatory scrutiny and significant fines for the bank.
What did Drexel Burnham Lambert become known for?
Drexel Burnham Lambert became famous for popularizing high-yield, or “junk,” bonds during the 1980s. Under banker Michael Milken, the firm helped expand the market for financing leveraged companies and corporate takeovers. Drexel filed for bankruptcy in 1990 after regulatory investigations and financial difficulties.
What was Vodafone’s major acquisition in 2000?
Vodafone acquired the German telecommunications company Mannesmann in 2000. The transaction, valued at roughly $180 billion, was one of the largest corporate takeovers ever completed at the time. It combined Vodafone’s mobile presence with Mannesmann’s telecommunications operations across Europe.