Dear Members,

Greetings to all!

On behalf of IIBF, I take the opportunity to wish all of you a happy, healthy and a safe life ahead. The first half of the year was an eventful period where once again, we encountered the adversity of the pandemic. Let us all hope and pray that the situation reaches normalcy sooner than later.

I would now like to take you through the initiatives undertaken by your Institute recently.


Introduction of the Professional Banker qualification.

Banking functions are becoming more specialised. Therefore, a banker, apart from having a general knowledge of banking operations, needs to acquire specialised knowledge in different verticals to remain competitive and be ahead of the curve. Most of the banks have created dedicated verticals in risk, credit, treasury, international banking etc. Many verticals in a bank have interlinkages with other verticals. For example, risk is an integral part of credit and treasury management. Hence, an officer handling the credit or treasury function in a bank needs to know about the nuances of risk management also. Thus, acquiring knowledge of interlinked verticals will help you in acquiring knowledge in specialized areas as well.

In order to meet the twin objectives of bridging the skill gaps and having a system of continuous professional development, a gold level aspirational qualification called “Professional Banker” has now been introduced by the Institute. This qualification is open to candidates who have five years’ experience and seeks to create a pool of professionals in specialized and inter-linked verticals to enable them to meet emerging challenges. A chart depicting the Professional Banker qualification is given below for your reference.

Process Diagram


Introduction of a new certificate course

A certificate course on “Resolution of Stressed Assets of Banks, with special emphasis on the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016” has been introduced by the Institute. IBBI is the knowledge partner for this course.

The certificate course aims to develop among banking professionals and employees an understanding of the Code, procedure to be followed for resolution of stressed assets, role of bankers in an insolvency resolution process under the Code and to further strengthen their capacity to discharge their duties and responsibilities, including commercial decisions with utmost care and diligence, in the best interests of all stakeholders. As management of NPAs including its resolution is a critical activity in banks, this certificate course will help bankers in enriching their knowledge on the subject.

The examination on the subject is conducted at increased frequencies in the remote proctored mode.

Introduction of additional certificate courses

The Institute will also be introducing two new certificate courses on:

  • Strategic Management & Innovations in Banking
  • Emerging Technologies

The first exams on the above subjects has been tentatively scheduled to be held in October 2021.

E-learning

Presently, the Institute offers e-learning covering some of the important courses / subjects like JAIIB, CAIIB, Credit Management, MSME, International Trade Finance, AML/KYC, Prevention of Cyber Crimes and Fraud Management, IT Security, Diploma in International Banking & Finance etc. We are also in process of developing new e-learnings on other contemporary topics like Treasury, Risk Management etc.

Joint certification programme by IIBF with XLRI on Leadership Development Programme

The Institute has tied up with XLRI for developing and co-branding of a program on soft skills involving leadership / team building with an emphasis on banking professionals at the mid-level.

The objective of the programme is to transform good managers in banks into effective leaders, with a human centric approach. The first batch of this programme will start on 24th July 2021.

Joint certificate programme with Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) on Advanced Strategic Management for Top Executives of Banks/FIs

IIBF caters to all important verticals in banks through its wide-ranging training programmes specially designed for the officers working at different levels such as new entrants, Junior/Middle Management and Senior Management. However, in order to tread the path to reach the pinnacle, a need was felt to develop a high value, short duration programme for the Top Management Executives of Banks in the area of Strategic Management and Leadership.

In order to have such a high quality; high-end programme, the Institute will be collaborating with Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), one of the reputed management institutions affiliated to University of Mumbai, for delivering a short duration Management Development Program on “Advanced Strategic Leadership” for Top Executives of Banks, Financial Institutions and NBFCs. 

The objective of the programme will be to enable the top executives of banks to have a compelling vision, enhance their capacities to formulate and execute strategies and lead their organizations across geographic boundaries by anticipating the future and acquiring a competitive advantage.

The details of the programme will be announced shortly.

Training Programmes

The Advanced Management Programme (AMP), one of the flagship programmes of the Institute which is conducted in collaboration with IIM Calcutta has been well accepted by the banking fraternity. The Institute commenced its 10th batch of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) on 6th June, 2021. The 10th  batch of the program was inaugurated virtually by Mr. Rajkiran Rai G, President, IIBF and Managing Director & CEO of Union Bank of India. The AMP programme is designed with a focus on building leadership capabilities at Banks & Financial Institutions.

Besides the AMP, the training vertical of IIBF conducts niche programmes covering different functional areas of the banks. New programmes on MSMEs, Agricultural Financing have also been drawn up by the Institute. The Institute has state of the art studios at its offices at Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi. This has enabled trainings to be conducted in the virtual mode in a seamless and effective manner.

The Institute has devised customized training programmes for various Banks to cater to their specific needs. The purpose of customized training programmes is skill upgradation to make the employees ready to deliver on those skills

Research Activities

The Institute has received good response in the following research schemes:

  • Micro Research
  • Macro Research
  • Diamond Jubilee and CH Bhabha Banking Overseas Research Fellowship (DJCHBBORF)
  • Scheme for Research in Banking Technology (Jointly with IDRBT)

The results of these schemes will be shortly announced by the Institute.

Collaboration with GARP, USA

IIBF has entered into a MoU with the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), USA for offering the Financial Risk & Regulations (FRR) program to JAIIB or CAIIB holders at a preferential rate of USD 300. The FRR program gives an overview on core aspects of Risk Management viz Credit Risk, Market Risk, Operational Risk and Asset & Liability Management (ALM). The registration window will be open until July 31, 2021 after which, the details of registered candidates will be shared with GARP, USA.

I am happy to state that the collaboration by IIBF with GARP has seen an encouraging response among the bankers.

Collaboration with Chartered Banker Institute

On 27th June 2017, IIBF had entered into a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the Chartered Banker Institute offering a pathway for the Certified Associates of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB) from India to have their qualifications recognized by the Chartered Banker Institute, and be able to become Chartered Bankers by studying the Chartered Banker Institute’s Professionalism, Ethics & Regulation module, and successfully completing a reflective assignment.

Taking forward this MRA, a pathway has now been made available for the Junior Associates of the Indian Institute of Bankers (JAIIB) to also acquire the Chartered Banker Status through the JAIIB Professional Conversion Route.

Process Diagram

The JAIIB Professional Conversion Route has also seen a good response.

Lastly, I would appeal to all to please stay safe and healthy by taking appropriate precautions and by following the advice provided by your local health authorities.

With warm regards,

Biswaketan Das

22nd July 2021.

 

CEO's Message

 

Dear Members,

I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2026 !

New year brings new energy, new aspirations and hope for a bright and eventful year ahead. As we begin 2026, I thank you for your continuous support and trust in the Institute.

I am proud to be a part of the world’s 4th largest economy with GDP of USD 4. 18 trillion and hope our contribution in building a knowledge economy will supplement the overall nation’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”.

The Indian Banking Industry witnessed major changes during 2025 and I strongly believe that its significant impact will unfold in the coming years. Deposit mobilisation was the prime concern for Indian banks that faced challenges from changing household savings patterns and shifting preference for alternative investment avenues. Deposit growth fell down to 11.4% in 2024-25 from 13.4% in the preceding year. Parallelly, the Mutual Fund (MF) industry marked an on-year rise of 23.11% at the end of 2025 with Assets Under Management (AUM) at a record Rs 65.74 lakh crore in March 2025 vs Rs 53.40 lakh crore in March 2024.

Intense competition from NBFCs and fintechs in credit delivery is changing the lending landscape at an unprecedented pace. These players are compelling banks to rethink speed, flexibility and risk models and explore collaborative synergies.

The year 2025 was also a defining year in terms of regulatory focus on leveraging technology, process improvements and enhancing service quality. The notification of Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, amendments in nomination facilities, simplification of claim settlement process, announcement of trade relief measures are some of the initiatives that had demonstrated resilience in Indian banking sector.

Amid these challenges, training and skill development have emerged as a critical differentiator. The evolving banking environment demands employees who are not only technologically proficient but also customer-centric, risk-aware and adaptable. Institutions that invest in upskilling their workforce, fostering innovation and building a learning culture are better positioned to improve service quality, strengthen customer relationships and sustain long-term growth in an increasingly competitive financial ecosystem.

The demographic profile of banking and finance professionals has also changed over the period of time. The significant part of BFSI workforce now comprises of young and professionally qualified officers. Keeping a tab on these facts, IIBF’s is determined to continuously add value to its educational offerings with focus on upskilling its members. The Institute has been the trusted learning partner of banks by providing suitable courses throughout the life cycle of a banker.

Henery Ford has once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young”. In the rapidly changing work environment, it is essential for the workforce to stay relevant and develop required skills for improving their productivity. The Institute has meticulously designed its training courses for continuous professional development of banking and finance professionals and foster a culture of life-long learning. The training programmes of the Institute can broadly be divided as:

  • Open Programmes (On Contemporary topics)
  • Customised Programmes (Bank Specific topics)
  • Specialised Programmes (On Specific topics)

Currently, the Training Department of the Institute conducts programmes covering all the major verticals in Banking and Finance domain.

The Institute has also taken several initiatives in the interest of the banking fraternity. I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve shared together during the last year:

  • Rationalising existing courses like Advance Wealth Management, Microfinance, Urban Co-operative Banking, IT Security, Prevention of Cyber Crimes and Fraud Management.
  • Introduction of new courses like Customer Service and Operational Risk Management.
  • Expansion of existing Training Programs and introduction of new training programs of contemporary relevance.
  • Expansion of IIBF’s Professional Development Centres at new geographies like Guwahati, Lucknow, Bangalore and GIFT City.
  • Introduction of NCVET approved course, “Fundamentals of Retail Banking” for catering a job ready labour force for the frontline segment of the banking industry.
  • Increasing our global footprints through our collaborations with IFC, UNEP-FI, Chartered Banker Institute, GARP, FPSB, CISI and other eminent international institutes.

The list is only illustrative not exhaustive and has further scope of strengthening our academic offerings. I am confident that together we will turn opportunities into achievements and challenges into growth.

Let us resolve to start the new year 2026 differently by making “learning” as an essential part of our journey.

With warm regards,
Biswa Ketan Das,
Chief Executive Officer,
Indian Institute of Banking & Finance,