IIBF to launch diploma in banking & finance

Indian Institute for Banking and Finance (IIBF), a premier training body promoted by public sector banks, is all set to launch a three-paper online diploma course in banking and finance.

The board has already approved the programme and the institute is expected to offer it in the next academic session starting May-June 2007.

"Even as there are a number of courses offered in banking for mid-career or junior executives, this will help in preparing a fresher with principles and practices of banking before they join a bank, said R Bhaskaran, CEO, IIBF.

Realising the specialised nature of banking in the current scenario, the institute will be soon introducing certificate courses in asset liability management, retail banking and risk management for working bank executives.

With increased globalisation and integration of Indian financial sector with overseas, the banking sector has reformed from operating under highly-regulated environment to an increasingly deregulated regime.

This has resulted in a high degree of specialisation in banking services with each activity "" SME, international banking, trade finance, treasury, home loan, agriculture, corporate banking operating as separate business units.

Each of these activities require the banker to learn the finer nuances of 'Know Your Customer' and anti-money laundering norms and principles of customer services. Therefore there has been a greater need for the bank executives to sharpen their skills in specialised areas since the filed is evolving very fast.

The other courses offered by Indian Institute of Banking Finance are exclusively for its members across cadres- junior, middle or senior management.

Some of these courses include certificate examination in trade finance, certificate customised examination on banking for IT companies, post graduate diploma in financial advising. It also offers management development programmes for senior executives with premier management institutes.

Since the banking industry is bracing for outsourcing of activities , the institute also offers certificate examination for direct selling and marketing agents as well.

In addition to this, National Institute for Bank Management (NIBM) offers long-duration general management programmes aimed at honing the management skills of middle and senior level executives. These are comparable to MBA programmes but with a focus on banking.