Defining Professionalism: Competence, Integrity and Accountability
Celebrating 150 years: What does professionalism mean in modern banking?
As part of the Chartered Banker Institute's 150th anniversary, we invited people from across banking and financial services to consider a question that goes to the heart of our purpose: what does professionalism mean in modern banking?
Our anniversary essay competition asked entrants to define professionalism in one sentence, then defend it, exploring why their definition matters and how professionalism can be applied by individuals at every level and stage of their career.
We selected winners across three categories: non-member, Young Banker and Institute member. In this series, we are publishing each of the three winning essays, sharing different perspectives on the values, judgement and behaviours that underpin trust in banking today.
Winner: Non-member category
We begin our anniversary essay series with the winner of the non-member category, Tochukwu Franklin Dike.
In Defending Professionalism in Modern Banking, Tochukwu Franklin Dike defines professionalism through competence, integrity and accountability, arguing that these qualities matter most when decisions are difficult, pressure is high and trust is at stake.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chartered Banker Institute.
Defending Professionalism in Modern Banking by Tochukwu Dike
Professionalism, a one sentence definition: the consistent application of competence, integrity, and accountability in service of trust, especially when no one is watching.
In banking and financial services, trust is everything. Every deposit, loan or investment depends on the belief that the business activity is trusted and that the people behind it will act responsibly. My definition of professionalism reflects something I have come to understand both academically and through experience. Systems do not fail overnight. They fail when small decisions made consistently begin to move away from sound judgement.
People often think of the banking system as strong, but it is actually weak. When trust is broken, it quickly spreads to other people. The world financial crisis is a good example of this. It was not just about complicated money tools. It had to do with how people used them. The same thing happened when Silicon Valley Bank went out of business: there were holes in risk management and control that caused people to lose faith quickly. These events show that when things go badly, it is not always because there are not any rules, but because people are not acting properly.
Competence is the first step. Everything else does not matter without it. In banking, this means being able to deal with risk, make smart decisions and use what you know properly. I have worked in insurance and reinsurance, so I have been exposed to how small mistakes can cause big financial problems. When assessing insurance risk or reviewing policy wordings, it is important to pay close attention to the details. The same applies in banking. Weak decisions do not always show immediate consequences but over time they build up.
At the same time, competence alone is not enough. There are situations where the technically correct option is not the most appropriate one. That is where integrity comes in. In my work, I have seen cases where certain arrangements offered speed or convenience but reduced clarity. Choosing transparency instead is not always the easiest option, especially under pressure, but it is usually the right one. In banking, similar decisions come up in product design and client interactions. To act with ethics you often have to think about more than just the short term.
Accountability is what makes everything work. It means being able to defend your decisions and talk about them when needed. This is very clear in reinsurance when claims are made and every detail is looked at closely. You can not use process as an excuse. You have to show that your choices were smart. Accountability in banking can be seen in governance and reporting, but it can also be seen on a personal level. It is a prerequisite as well as a way of thinking.
Professionalism changes as people climb up the cadre in their occupations. At first, it is largely about learning and being disciplined. As a student in MSc Risk Management, I have learned that conducting thorough and honest risk review is more important than just receiving results. That way of thinking stays with you.
As you get better at your job, being professional becomes more about being consistent. Working with people from other countries has exposed me to how important it is to be reliable. It may seem easy to meet deadlines, explain clearly and get the facts right, yet that is when things typically go wrong. Most of the time, problems do not come from major errors but from small ones.
At higher levels, professionalism has less to do with doing specific tasks and more to do with making a difference. Leaders affect what people do and how they think. When the setting encourages honesty and duty, people tend to follow. Systems that are strong at first can weaken over time if they do not change. Culture is more important than most people think.
Things are evolving, technology is a part of almost every decision we make now. People are using AI and data analytics quite often and they help make working efficient, but they also introduce new risks. From what I have been exposed to as a cyber underwriter, cyber dangers are the new reality if not properly managed. It is also apparent that knowing how to use these tools is now a part of being a professional. You can not just use them; you have to use them wisely.
Being professional is even more important when you work in different types of markets. Rules can be different, but sometimes what people expect does not match up. In these kinds of situations, personal standards are important. They help people make choices when they do not have enough outside help.
But the real test comes when things go tough. It is not always clear what the best choice is when there is stress or doubt. That is when being professional is most crucial. It helps people stay grounded and make choices that keep trust safe, even when it is not the easiest thing to do.
There is also a larger duty. Banking helps people, businesses, and economies. This means that what happens in the sector has genuine impacts on those outside of the company. Professionalism is what makes sure that their consequences are good.
In the end, professionalism is what makes financial services trustworthy. It links knowledge with duty and makes sure that choices are both fair and useful.
In summary, professionalism largely means always using competence, honesty, and responsibility to build trust, it is highly important. In my work in risk management and reinsurance, I have learned that being professional does not mean being noticed rather it is important to be consistent, especially when no one is looking. When professionalism breaks down, trust is often the first thing to disappear. And once trust is gone, the system has a hard time holding on.
About Tochukwu Dike
Tochukwu Dike is a risk management professional with experience in insurance and reinsurance. He holds an MSc in Risk Management from Glasgow Caledonian University and a certification from the Institute of Risk Management. His work focuses on reinsurance structuring, risk analysis and financial stability, with a growing interest in the role of data and technology in risk management.