Bank of America Student Leaders 2026: How to Apply
The Bank of America Student Leaders program is back for another year, but what is it, and how can you apply?
✨ 5-second summary
- The Bank of America Student Leaders program is an 8-week-long internship program for high schoolers.
- The 2026 application cycle has not started yet, but is planned to open very soon.
The Bank of America has partnerships with nonprofit and charitable organizations all over the US. Being accepted in the Bank of America Student Leaders program means you'll be hired as a paid intern and work at one of these organizations near you.
So if you're a high school student who wants to develop your leadership skills and get involved in your community, this program may be perfect for you!
Let's look into the program and see exactly how you can apply.
What is the Bank of America Student Leaders program?
The Bank of America Student Leaders program aims to improve youth employment in communities across the US by offering young students the opportunity to get involved with local non-profit organizations nearby.
This 8-week program(35 hours a week) seeks to give students opportunities to develop skills and connect with some of their own community leaders.
Here are some of the main opportunities student leaders will benefit from:
- Community service: Showing interest and experience in giving back to your community looks great on a resume and can be very fulfilling.
- Leadership development: Getting involved will teach you several new leadership skills that will be useful in your personal and professional life. Skills like networking, team leadership, and collaboration are all good examples.
- Work experience through a paid summer internship: You'll get real-world experience and valuable insight into how the company works and how it positively affects the people around you. All while getting paid!
- Networking: Through this program, you're guaranteed to make connections. Be it your boss, coworkers, or others you interact with. These connections can be helpful down the line, so don't underestimate them!
- Making a tangible impact: Who wouldn't want to have a positive impact on their community? The companies you can work for, either NGO or charitable, will offer community-minded services to improve the lives of people around them. Being part of that will allow you to give back and participate in that rewarding process.
More than 300 students are selected for this program every year, and you could be one of them!
Who can apply for the program?
To be eligible to participate, you have to be:
- A junior or senior in high school with good grades
- Able to work in the US without sponsorship until the end of September
- Ready to participate in an 8-week paid internship for 35 hours a week
- Available to participate in the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC (all expenses are paid)
- Permanently residing in one of the eligible locations
You are not eligible to apply if:
- You’re a Bank of America employee or an immediate family member of a BoA employee
- You’d already been selected for the program in the past
You can learn more on the official program FAQ page.
⏰ Application deadline and key dates
Every year, applications open in the fall of the previous year.
The final application deadline for 2025 cycle was January 15, 2025. Therefore, applications are now closed.
We'll update this page when the 2026 applications open.
What you need to apply
- A letter of recommendation from a mentor, coach or admin from your current school
- Online application (follow instructions below)
💡 You don't need a resume to apply.
How to apply for the Bank of America Student Leaders program
To apply, begin by going to the program's main page at www.bankofamerica.com/studentleaders
Step 1
Once on the page, click on the "Apply Now" option
Step 2
Confirm your interest in applying for the program.
Step 3
Select which grade you're in and press Submit.
Step 4
Confirm that you:
- Are available to work 35 hours a week for 8 weeks
- Can attend the Student Leader's summit from July 21 to 26
- Have authorized to work in the US at least until the end of September 2025
- Are not an immediate family member of a Bank of America employee
Step 5
Log in or create an account.
Step 6
After reading through the information, press on the "Start a new application" at the bottom of the page.
Step 7
Fill in all the requested fields.
Step 8
Review and submit your application.
How to prepare your recommendation letter
Bank of America has very specific rules on how to prepare your recommendation letter.
Your letter of recommendation must be:
- Written by an administrator, teacher, guidance counselor or coach at the student’s current school.
- Signed by the person who wrote it.
- Formatted in school letterhead format.
- Saved as a PDF.
Tips on preparing a strong application
- Start early: One of the best ways to stay calm during this process is to get started early. This not only gives you enough time to gather everything you need but also allows you to put together the best version of your application.
- Get feedback: Consider asking someone you trust for feedback once you've drafted your essay. A fresh pair of eyes can catch things you may have missed and offer valuable suggestions to enhance your writing.
- Proofread your application before hitting submit.
Grammatical mistakes matter!
A study on the impact of errors in the application shows that grammar mistakes negatively affect the perception of an applicant and can often make the difference between being selected (or not).
Conclusion
The end of high school is the best time to engage in programs like this and get real-life experience. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to give back to their community and gain valuable skills. Start the application process as early as possible, find a reference, and ensure everything is submitted before the deadline.
Good luck!
Enrick RainvilleAuthor
Enrick is a Junior Content Editor at educations.com. He leverages his background in Organizational Communications and experience developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies for a Canadian Member of Parliament to enhance the quality, relevance, and accessibility of the editorial content he produces.
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