ITB: a doorway to banking
The Institut Technique de Banque (ITB), present in 25 countries, offers high-level training to develop the skills of technical staff and local managers in retail banking.
ITB courses last a maximum of two years and are open to candidates from varied backgrounds, with no age limit. Students should possess a good general knowledge and familiarity with banking techniques acquired through initial and/or professional education. An evaluation test is available for banks wishing to enrol employees.
Maximum of 40 days of classes
The programme is organized in different user formats. Depending on their level, students can follow the full cycle of diploma courses, benefit from a “lightweight” programme with waivers, or just take some training modules to obtain particular qualifications. The full course comprises 40 study days: 24 face-to-face teaching days and 16 days for practical sessions devoted to professional problems, foregrounding a horizontal approach across several specialities. The ITB has two local centres, in Nice and Marseille. It also fits into the broader framework of the CFPB (Training Centre for the Banking Industry), an organization that delivers other professional qualifications including state diplomas at 2-year, Degree and Masters level.
IBF: a new approach to training
Jérôme de Rocquigny, President of the Institut Bancaire de Formation (IBF), is convinced that the banking sector will need significant new human resources in the next few years.
Based in Nice, Marseille, Saint-Etienne and Valence, IBF offers several levels of training, from the 2-year BTS to a specialized banking certificate equivalent to a 4-year degree course. For students who are already qualified it can also offer the European diploma in higher banking studies, a degree level course, now widely recognized in the profession, oriented towards banking and insurance. This is a cooperative education programme that progressively integrates the student into the world of business. A Monegasque option is available. “Students are trained in trust and offshore operations and in Luxembourg credit rules, which are not applicable in France,” explains Jérôme de Rocquigny. “The option also includes 60 hours devoted to ethics and the fight against money-laundering.”
Thriving specialities
80% of former IBF students, at all levels, embark on professional careers after their training. The President believes that by 2015 a large number of bankers will have retired. This is his vision of the market: “Today, banking is strictly controlled. A lot has therefore been done to improve the image and promote trust. And this means banks are looking for staff capable of generating certified business.”
