Chartered Banker (CB)

Logo of Chartered Banker (CB)

INTRODUCTION TO CHARTERED BANKER

As the flagship qualification of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB), the Chartered Banker is a globally recognised professional banking qualification as well as a prestigious professional designation. Jointly awarded by AICB and the Chartered Banker Institute in the United Kingdom, the only organisations able to confer the status of Chartered Banker in SEA and globally respectively, this qualification will help you achieve and maintain the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The qualification aims to produce banking professionals who:

  • demonstrate extensive knowledge of the banking sector and are able to manage complex issues and perform a wide range of banking functions.
  • exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions in relevant work situations
  • are ethical and professional, and able to develop strategies to improve organisational performance.

TARGET AUDIENCE

  • Aspiring entrants and entry level executives in the banking industry.
  • Banking professionals with several years of experience.
  • Experienced professionals aspiring to hold leadership roles in the banking industry.

CERTIFICATION PATHWAYS

There are a few routes to becoming a Chartered Banker. For more details, click here.

ENROLMENT

Candidates are required to submit the prerequisite supporting documents for enrolment. For full details on documentation, click here.

MEMBERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION

Members who have completed Level 3 of the Chartered Banker programme will be conferred the ‘Chartered Banker’ status and are entitled to use the membership designation, ‘CB’. Click here to find out more.

MODULES

Click here to view the Chartered Banker modules.

ASSESSMENT

Click here for more information on the assessment format.

EXAM

Click here for more information on examinations.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Candidates are required to be Individual Members of AICB.
  2. Candidates must meet the following entry requirements.
CB Certification Pathway
QUALIFICATION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS MODULES TO COMPLETE

STANDARD ROUTE

Chartered Banker Level 1 (Executive Banker)

Available to individuals who:

  • possess a recognised diploma or an equivalent qualification; OR
  • are currently pursuing the final year of a degree programme in a recognised university.
Note:

Candidates who do not meet the minimum education requirements set out above may be considered on a case-by-case basis but MUST meet the following criteria:

  • Possess SPM or an equivalent qualification; AND
  • Have at least 3 years of approved practical experience in the banking and financial services industry.
3 EB modules

Click here to view the syllabus.
Chartered Banker Level 2 (Professional Banker) Completed Executive Banker 3 PB modules, of which the Business Lending module OR the Retail Lending module is compulsory.

(1 Compulsory + 2 Electives
OR
2 Compulsory +1 Elective).


Click here to view the syllabus.

Chartered Banker Level 3 (Chartered Banker) Completed Professional Banker 3 CB modules, of which the Professionalism, Ethics and Regulation module is compulsory.

Note:

PB candidates without passes in the Business Lending/Retail Lending module are required to complete the Credit and Lending module as another compulsory module.

Click here to view the syllabus.


Candidates may apply to enrol directly in the Professional Banker (PB) or Chartered Banker (CB) qualification based on prior learning and/or work experience in a banking institution as approved by the institute:

QUALIFICATION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS MODULES TO COMPLETE

ACCELERATED ROUTE

Chartered Banker Level 2 (Professional Banker) Possess a recognised degree 3 PB modules, of which the Business Lending module or the Retail Lending module is compulsory

(1 Compulsory + 2 Electives
OR
2 Compulsory + 1 Elective).

Click here to view the syllabus.
AICB Qualifications
  • Certified Credit Executive (CCE)
  • Certification in AML/CFT (CAML)
  • Certification in Regulatory Compliance (CRC)
  • Certificate in Internal Auditing for Financial Institutions (CIAFIN)
  • Investor Protection Professional Certification (IPPC)
  • IBBM Banking and Financial Services Certificate
3 PB modules, of which the Business Lending module or the Retail Lending module is compulsory

(1 Compulsory + 2 Electives
OR
2 Compulsory + 1 Elective).

Click here to view the syllabus.
AICB Qualifications
  • Certified Credit Professional (CCP) (Consumer/Business)
  • Retail Credit Professional (RCP)
  • Business Credit Professional (BCP)
2 PB modules.

Click here to view the syllabus.

AICB Qualifications

  • Bank Risk Management (BRM)
  • Certification for Bank Auditors (CBA)
  • Certification Professional in AML/CFT (CPAML)/ Certified Professional in Financial Crime Compliance (CPFCC)
  • Advanced Certification in AML/CFT (ACAML)
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering & Counter Financing of Terrorism Compliance Officer (CAMCO)
  • Advanced Certification in Regulatory Compliance (ACRC)
  • Pasaran Kewangan Malaysia Certificate (PKMC)
  • IBBM Diploma in Banking and Financial Services
2 PB modules, of which the Business Lending module or the Retail Lending module is compulsory

(1 Compulsory + 1 Elective
OR
2 Compulsory)

Click here to view the syllabus.
Experienced Banking Practitioners without Degree Qualifications
  • Have at least 15 years of experience in core banking areas* (NOT in support or corporate functions). The breadth and depth of experience will be considered during the review process; AND
  • Have held managerial positions/roles in the past 5 years.
A letter of support/recommendation signed by an individual from the company’s senior management is required.

Click here for sample letter.
3 PB modules, of which the Business Lending module or the Retail Lending module is compulsory

(1 Compulsory + 2 Electives
OR
2 Compulsory + 1 Elective).

Click here to view the syllabus.
Chartered Banker Level 3 (Chartered Banker)
Professional Pathway
  • Have recognised accounting qualifications (e.g. ACCA, ICAEW, CPA Australia, CIMA) and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder status.

2 CB modules

Compulsory

  • Professionalism, Ethics & Regulation; AND

Electives

  • Credit and Lending

Click here to view the syllabus.



The accelerated routes is not an automatic entitlement. A formal application must be made together with the relevant documents for evaluation by AICB.

*Notes:

Core banking areas:

  • Audit
  • Banking Operations (Branch Operations, Credit Administration, Trade Finance, Treasury Operations, Transaction Banking)
  • Business Banking/Corporate Banking
  • Compliance (includes AML/CFT)
  • Consumer Banking/Personal Financial Services/Wealth Management
  • Credit (marketing, appraisal, approval, review, control, collection & recovery)
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Finance — bank critical functions such as funding and capital management
  • Information Security/Cybersecurity
  • International Banking
  • International Trade Finance
  • Investment/Corporate Finance
  • Offshore Banking
  • Risk Management

The list above is non-exhaustive. It will be defined based on the depth and breadth of the job function and reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to the information provided in the curriculum vitae (CV).

Approvals

  1. All applications for enrolments or exemptions will be processed according to the requirements set out in the regulations.
  2. Applications will be processed upon receipt of full and complete documentation as stated in the Enrolment section.
  3. Approvals for enrolments or exemptions will be granted based on the information/documents submitted and applicants may be contacted if additional information is required.
  4. Candidates whose qualifications and experience have been assessed by the Institute will be informed of the Institute’s decision within 10 working days of the application date, upon receipt of full and complete documentation.
  5. Where the candidates’ qualifications have not previously been assessed by the Institute, a longer processing time will be required.
  6. Candidates will be informed of the Institute’s decision via email.

ENROLMENT

Candidates who submit incomplete applications (i.e. applications with incomplete details or supporting documents) will be given 30 days to provide the required information and/or documentation, failing which the application will be declined.

The documents required are as follows:

QUALIFICATION EXECUTIVE BANKER PROFESSIONAL BANKER CHARTERED BANKER

STANDARD ROUTE

Certificate of qualification (minimum diploma or an equivalent qualification)

Note:
Candidates who do not meet the minimum education requirements must provide the following documents:

  • SPM or an equivalent qualifications; AND
  • Curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting work experience in the banking and financial services industry.
  • Executive Banker Certificate
  • Professional Banker Certificate

ACCELERATED ROUTE

N/A

With a recognised degree

  • Certificate of qualification (minimum degree or an equivalent qualification).

Experienced banking practitioners without degree qualifications:

  • CV highlighting specific descriptions of job functions; AND
  • A letter of support/recommendation from the employer, signed off by senior management.


(Click here for sample letter)

Professional Pathway

  • Certificate of a professional qualification in accountancy or the CFA Charter.


Important notes

  1. The qualification certificates/examination transcripts submitted must be certified as true copies by one of the following individuals:
    • a university official; OR
    • a Notary Public; OR
    • a Commissioner for Oaths; OR
    • an officer of the employing organisation; OR
    • other such persons or agents as may be approved by the institute.
  1. The signatory must sign and date the documents and provide the following details:
    • name
    • designation
    • email
    • contact number
  1. If the documents are not in English or Bahasa Malaysia, translated documents by a certified translator must be appended to the submission. The credentials and contact information of the certified translator must be stated.
  2. Qualification certificates that are submitted for enrolments or exemptions must be awarded by universities/higher eduction institutions recognised by the awarding country's Ministry of Higher Education or its equivalent or the national qualification accreditation agencies.
  3. Malaysian qualifications should be listed in the Malaysia Qualifications Register (MQR) or the Finance Accreditation Agency's (FAA) website.
  4. AICB reserves the right to contact the awarding institution to verify the authenticity of the candidate’s qualifications.

MEMBERSHIP AND
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION

Membership starts with enrolment in AICB’s qualifications. Upon completion of the Professional Banker, members will be upgraded to ‘Associate’ status and are entitled to use the membership designation, ‘Associate, AICB’.

Members who have completed Level 3 of the programme will be conferred the Chartered Banker status. Members maintain their professional designations and memberships by fulfilling the annual Continuing Professional Development obligations and adhering to the Code of Professional Conduct.