INTERNATIONAL BANKING & FINANCE CERTIFICATE – FOUNDATION

What is this program? The IBCI is a Level 4 qualification that moves beyond fundamental financial literacy to provide an in-depth understanding of banking functions, products, services, and the regulatory environment from an international perspective. It is structured to provide an intermediate level of technical expertise in a specialized area of banking. What will I learn in this course? You will gain a robust understanding of the overall banking ecosystem, risk types, financial regulations, and ethics. Critically, you will also acquire specialist knowledge in a chosen area like Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, or Investment Banking, equipping you for targeted roles.

Core Modules

• Core Module (Unit 1: Common to all participants)
• The Banking Environment: The role and function of banks in the economy, financial infrastructure, and different types of financial institutions globally.
• Financial Fundamentals: Interpretation of bank balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and basic financial calculations (interest, cash flows).
• Regulatory and Risk Management: Understanding the key risk types facing a bank (credit, market, operational), regulatory requirements, the importance of capital, and basic compliance issues.
• basic compliance issues. Specialization (Unit 2: Choose one)
• Candidates select a specialization unit aligned with their career aspirations, which provides targeted knowledge:
• Retail and Digital Banking (RETB): Focuses on customer-facing services, deposits, loans, mortgages, and the transformation driven by FinTech and digital channels.
• Corporate Banking (CORB): Focuses on services for businesses, including corporate lending, trade finance, cash management, and financial advisory.
• Investment Banking and Markets (INVB): Focuses on capital markets, securities, trading, mergers & acquisitions (\text{M\&A}), and asset management.
• Risk and Credit (RSCR): A deep dive into credit analysis, risk measurement techniques, and the processes for managing credit portfolios.
• Compliance (COMP): Focuses on ethical behavior, anti-money laundering (\text{AML}), Know Your Customer (\text{KYC}) regulations, and global compliance frameworks.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze Financial Reports: Demonstrate numeracy and the ability to interpret basic bank financial statements and understand credit risk.
• Evaluate Banking Products: Assess and recommend banking solutions based on suitability for specific customer or client situations.
• Apply Regulatory Knowledge: Identify the reasons for and methods of bank regulation and interpret basic compliance issues relevant to the financial services sector.
• Perform Specialized Tasks: Apply in-depth knowledge in your chosen Unit 2 specialization (e.g., performing credit checks, understanding trade finance mechanics, or explaining digital payment systems).