Indigenous Intern, Mortgage Services

About the role

You will partner with internal stakeholders to identify and analyze barriers that Indigenous peoples encounter within mortgage services. Your work will generate insights that directly inform how Equitable Bank can adjust its products, processes, and outreach to better serve Indigenous communities. You will own the documentation of your findings, ensuring that recommendations are clear, actionable, and grounded in the data you gather. This role gives you the space to challenge existing assumptions about financial access and to propose innovative solutions. You will contribute to a broader cultural shift within the organization by highlighting Indigenous perspectives in key business decisions. Every task you complete will support the bank's commitment to meaningful reconciliation in financial services. You will leave this internship with a concrete portfolio of research that demonstrates your ability to drive impact in a regulated financial environment.

Key facts

What you'll do

Investigate historical and current practices in mortgage services to map where Indigenous-specific barriers exist.

Conduct interviews and gather qualitative feedback from Indigenous community members to understand their banking experiences.

Analyze quantitative data sets to identify trends in mortgage application outcomes for Indigenous applicants.

Draft clear policy recommendations that align with regulatory requirements and Indigenous governance principles.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate Indigenous perspectives into product design and service delivery.

Create accessible reports and visual presentations that communicate complex findings to diverse stakeholders.

Develop a deep understanding of the unique financial contexts and priorities within Indigenous communities.

Support the creation of internal guidelines that promote culturally safe and responsive mortgage services.

Monitor emerging regulatory and industry standards related to Indigenous financial inclusion and reconciliation.

Document your research process meticulously to ensure transparency and reproducibility of your findings.

Lead targeted outreach to build trust with Indigenous partners and gather relevant insights for your analysis.

Translate complex financial jargon into plain language that resonates with community members and internal teams.

Present your recommendations to internal stakeholders and participate in discussions on next steps for implementation.

Contribute to the bank's public reporting on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the mortgage space.

Requirements

You must be registered as a student in a post-secondary institution for the duration of the internship.

You must be eligible to work in Canada and not require additional work authorization during the internship term.

You must be able to start and complete the internship within the timelines specified by the program.

You must be able to work in the Toronto office or fully remote as required by the role.

You must have the right to work or reside in Canada without restrictions that would impede full participation in the internship.

You must be able to commit to the full duration of the internship as outlined in the offer.

You must be able to meet the attendance and performance expectations of a student intern in a professional setting.

You must comply with all applicable policies regarding confidentiality, data security, and professional conduct.

Nice to have

Experience working with Indigenous communities or knowledge of Indigenous cultures and protocols.

Familiarity with mortgage products, underwriting processes, or financial services regulation.

Skills in qualitative research methods, including interviewing and thematic analysis.

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Previous experience using data analysis tools or visualization software.

Understanding of reconciliation frameworks and Indigenous economic issues in Canada.

Practical notes

This is a student internship engagement.

The role may be located in Toronto or be fully remote.

You must be available for the full duration of the internship as defined by the program schedule.

Compliance with Canadian work eligibility requirements is mandatory for this position.