Checking Accounts

Case Study Prompt

Your client is a provider of financial services to banks in the United States.

Estimate how many checking accounts there are in the United States right now.

Case Study Overview

In this Market Sizing case from the Bain case library, you’re being asked to estimate the number of checking accounts in the US on the spot. There are 2 ways to solve a Market Sizing case. You can take either a top-down or bottom-up approach. Which do you think will be the most beneficial for you here?

Follow these 4 steps for solving Market Sizing cases:

1. Structure your approach (at least 5 steps is ideal)
2. Make assumptions
3. Do the calculations
4. Get to an insight

This Market Sizing case study has a qualitative difficulty of 1 out of 4 and is a case you would likely see in a first round interview.

Bain Interview Tips

Bain looks for high levels of practicality in its case interview candidates.

Build a structure that includes work-streams you would assign out to the team of analysts you oversee.

In this case, focus on identifying one key area you can improve for the next time.

For out-loud practice with an expert, book an hour with an ex-MBB coach.