Learn and Develop
Faster route to learning

Experienced bankers can fast track to the new SMART Chartered Banker qualification.

For those in the banking industry, demonstrating a commitment to professionalism has never been more important. The Senior Management Accelerated Route to Chartered Banker status, or SMART CB, allows senior banking professionals to gain Chartered Banker status in a way which recognises and underlines prior learning plus existing experience and knowledge in the form of a Masters level qualification.

It is a common-sense approach, which ‘fasttracks’ candidates through this Level 7 qualification, allowing those already demonstrating high level on-the-job experience to achieve Chartered Banker in under one year.

This groundbreaking method is being offered by CIOBS together with Reed Learning, one of the leading training providers for the financial services sector.

States Hugh Greenway, Managing Director, Reed Learning: “The issue is about people who are time poor, who don’t have the two to three years required to attain this qualification. They will have had structured formal training throughout their career, so this method of accreditation of prior learning and experience makes perfect sense.”

Launched in March this year, there has already been a lot of interest in SMART CB from the high street banks and other financial institutions.

Candidates are initially assessed to check their eligibility for the qualification and are then assigned a Mentor and an Assessor who will work with them personally throughout the qualification process. Knowledge gained through practical experience is assessed, with candidates being required to show evidence of experience and understanding, collated on an online assessment portal. Their mentor will then be able to highlight gaps or areas where further work is needed in order to move forward.

Crucially, despite the ‘fast track’ method of qualification, none of the commitment to high technical and ethical standards is lost. “These are experienced managers with busy schedules,” adds Greenway. “But we needed to ensure that, in making the learning platform more accessible to them, none of the credibility of the qualification was sacrificed. That was paramount.

“One of the reasons CIOBS is doing this with us, an external provider, is so they retain their ability to validate and audit the qualification. Because we’re doing this on an eportfolio, there is a complete audit trail, with evidence that each candidate understands the learning outcomes.”

One of the most exciting elements of SMART CB is that it is uniquely tailored to each candidate. “This is the bespoke suit of learning programmes,” says Greenway. “The mentor goes through the history of the applicant, mapping their existing experience and qualifications to the 11 subject credits required to obtain Chartered Banker. They will then work on the areas where there are gaps. The programme can be adapted, it’s flexible.”

Being a Chartered Banker is about developing modern professionalism and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the financial services sector. This method of acquiring Chartered Banker status gives senior level bankers the opportunity to gain a recognised, evidence-based external endorsement of their existing skills. Greenway explains: “This is timely. From where we sit as a provider to financial services, there has definitely been an increased focus on professional qualifications. It is crucial in re-building customer trust that bankers can demonstrate a professional approach. Chartered Banker is a way to competitively differentiate – to return to what banking is about.”

For more information, go to: www.reedlearning.com/smartcb or call 0800 132 448, email: chartered.banker@reed.co.uk

Key features of SMART Chartered Banker
Those eligible for the programme will undertake a three-stage process to gain Chartered Banker accreditation.

1. An initial evaluation will assess knowledge and understanding gained from relevant formal certified learning

2. One-to-one meetings with an assessor will evaluate knowledge gained through practical experience at a senior management level. Evidence of professional experience and understanding will be collated on an online assessment portal

3. Study and examination will be required for mandatory modules, to include Professionalism and Ethics as a minimum.

Upon completion of the qualification candidates will be authorised by The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland to use the designation “Chartered Banker”, subject to meeting its annual CPD requirements. They will benefit from the associated standing and recognition of competence, as well as a Level 7 (SCQF Level 11) qualification (equivalent to a Masters degree).

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