With Cleveland being an important financial center in the Midwest of the United States, there are a number of major investment banks that have established a presence in the city over the years. In this article, we will take a look at some of the top investment banks in Cleveland, their history in the region, as well as their main business focus and strengths. Understanding the investment banking landscape in Cleveland can help students interested in a career in finance better plan their education path and gain the experiences needed to break into the industry.

Keyence Corp of America has a strong focus on M&A and private equity deals
Keyence Corp of America is the US subsidiary of Keyence, a major Japanese manufacturer of automation sensors and measuring instruments. Keyence established its North America headquarters in Cleveland and has been expanding its business reach across the region. The Cleveland office houses Keyence’s M&A and private equity division which focuses on identifying acquisition targets, conducting due diligence, valuing companies, and structuring private equity deals.
Victory Capital has grown through acquisitions to become a leading asset management firm
Victory Capital is an investment management firm based in Cleveland that has rapidly grown to over $150 billion in assets under management. The firm has expanded in recent years through acquiring asset management boutiques across the US. Victory Capital has strengths in acquiring complementary asset managers and merging operations to gain scale and efficiency. The firm focuses on public equities, fixed income, multi-asset solutions and private assets.
KeyBank provides full investment banking services to middle market clients
KeyBank is one of the major regional banks based in Cleveland that provides commercial banking, investment banking, and asset management services across the Midwest and Northwest US markets. Within its investment bank, KeyBanc Capital Markets offers various advisory services including M&A, equity & debt capital raising, restructuring, recapitalization, and private placement. KeyBank’s investment bank focuses on middle market clients with under $1 billion in revenue.
Oswald Financials is strong in sell-side M&A advisory and capital raises for privately-owned companies
Oswald Financial is a boutique investment bank founded and headquartered in Cleveland. It focuses on providing sell-side M&A and corporate finance advisory services to lower middle market and privately-owned businesses across Ohio and surrounding states. The firm’s managing directors have extensive experience guiding business owners through the strategic sale process and accessing the capital markets. Oswald provides a customized approach for each unique company situation.
Cleveland hosts a number of reputable investment banks with diverse areas of focus including middle market M&A, private equity, asset management, and capital raising for privately owned companies. Students interested in financial careers can look to gain experience in Cleveland banks to prepare for leadership roles.