Pros
Northern has a reputation for integrity. It also has a long standing tradition in the financial services community that includes the "old boys" network however. It was a primarily high-net worth institution for "blue-blooded" individuals and who needed their money managed and custodied. Northern has a good benefits and a good management. There are a number of perks for working at Northern, including child care and good benefits and the reputation value of being associated with such a global player in the advising and custody business. There are other things I like about Northern including the fact that their business model is somewhat recession resistant
Cons
The pay scale at Northern is not on par with other large banks Headquartered in the Chicago area or those that have large presence. It's more than Harris Bank, but less than Lasalle Bank or Chase Bank. There are some other down sides in that it's pretty slow to get something done. There is some beauracracy and sometime the "old boy" network can be somewhat frustrating. Things are done a certain way because they've always been done that way and the bank is somewhat resistant to change quickly. The culture is a lot more stuffy than other downtown banks. No business casual in HQ building.