The concept of “trading forex like the banks” has become a popular theme among retail traders aiming to replicate the institutional approach to currency markets. On Udemy, several top-rated courses aim to demystify how banks trade forex — from order flow to liquidity zones and smart money concepts. These courses focus on giving retail traders the tools and mindset to align their strategies with institutional behaviour.

This article explores the best Udemy courses that teach you how to trade forex like the banks, what these strategies involve, and how they differ from traditional retail approaches.

What Does It Mean to Trade Forex Like Banks?

Trading like the banks means:

• Understanding how institutional liquidity drives price
• Using order block theory, smart money concepts (SMC), and liquidity zones
• Avoiding retail traps such as obvious breakouts or over-reliance on indicators
• Thinking in terms of market structure, not just signals

Banks move large volumes of currency and need liquidity to execute trades. Retail traders who understand where that liquidity lies can align their entries with institutional movements.

Top Udemy Courses That Teach Forex Trading Like Banks

1. Smart Money Concepts: Trade Forex Like Banks – by Trade With Precision

Rating: ★★★★★
Content Highlights:

• Deep dive into order blocks, market structure shifts, and inducement levels
• Practical trading strategies aligned with institutional models
• Real trade walkthroughs with smart money logic
  Best For: Intermediate traders wanting to transition into institutional-style trading

2. Forex Institutional Trading Course (Supply & Demand + SMC)

Rating: ★★★★☆
Content Highlights:

• Smart money vs. retail logic
• Supply and demand zones explained visually
• Teaches imbalance, fair value gaps, and liquidity grabs
  Best For: Visual learners and those seeking pure SMC strategies

3. Master Institutional Trading With Price Action – by James Hall

Rating: ★★★★☆
Content Highlights:

• Uses price action to identify smart money accumulation and distribution
• Teaches ‘manipulation phase’ and ‘expansion phase’
• Breakdown of institutional trading models (ICT-based)
  Best For: Traders focused on clean charts and no indicators

4. Trading Like the Banks: A Beginner’s Guide to Smart Money Concepts

Rating: ★★★★☆
Content Highlights:

• Beginner-friendly explanation of key SMC terms
• Real charts with annotated order blocks and liquidity zones
• Foundation course before progressing to advanced models
  Best For: Total beginners new to institutional trading

5. Advanced Forex Strategy: Liquidity and Market Maker Models

Rating: ★★★★☆
Content Highlights:

• Explores market maker methodology
• Liquidity hunting, stop runs, and reversal zones
• Integrates advanced concepts like reaccumulation and displacement
  Best For: Advanced retail traders ready to overhaul their strategy

Key Topics Covered in These Courses

Concept	Explanation
Smart Money Concepts (SMC)	Theory that banks and institutions create liquidity traps to fill orders
Order Blocks	Institutional footprints where large orders are placed
Market Structure Shifts	Key signal for break in trend or start of institutional moves
Liquidity Grabs	Stop hunts designed to trap retail traders before reversals
Fair Value Gaps (FVGs)	Imbalanced candles that institutions often revisit

Case Study: Applying Smart Money Concepts From Udemy

Name: Ayaka, 33
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Course Taken: Smart Money Concepts: Trade Forex Like Banks
Background: Former indicator trader using RSI and MACD
Result: After 6 weeks of study, she transitioned to pure price action with SMC and gained her first funded account after consistent demo results

This real-world example shows how Udemy’s bank-style trading courses can change a trader’s direction dramatically.

Key Takeaways

• Udemy offers multiple well-structured courses to help retail traders think like institutions
• Concepts like SMC, order blocks, and liquidity grabs are central to bank-style trading
• Visual, hands-on course formats help accelerate understanding
• Courses range from beginner introductions to advanced institutional models
• Many students report breakthroughs after abandoning indicator-heavy strategies

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these Udemy courses suitable for complete beginners?

Yes, some courses are beginner-friendly, while others are more advanced. Start with introductory SMC courses before progressing.

Do I need to understand technical indicators first?

No, institutional trading courses often avoid indicators and focus on pure price action.

Are smart money concepts reliable for forex trading?

They are widely used by funded traders and professionals, though they require practice and discipline.

Do I get lifetime access to the courses on Udemy?

Yes, once purchased, you have unlimited access to all course content and updates.

Can I use these strategies with any forex broker?

Yes, but ECN brokers with low spreads are ideal to trade institutional strategies effectively.