International Academy of Retail Banking

The Retail Banking Academy (RBA) is a UK-based educational body, founded with the objective of playing a leading role in the development and professionalisation of consumer-oriented retail banking around the world. It is the only educational and professional academy exclusively dedicated to retail banking anywhere in the world. The RBA is the only international, educational and professional body that's exclusively dedicated to retail banking.

The Certified Retail Banker (CRB) programme makes it possible for retail bankers to embark on a structured certification programme that covers every aspect of the industry end to end. . The Retail Banking Academy has its headquarters in London, UK.

The organisation was founded in London, UK in 2011 as the International Academy of Retail Banking with the objective of educating retail bankers worldwide to a high professional standard.

It believes that a separated, independent retail banking sector should be led by professionally qualified retail bankers, bound by an ethical code similar to those already in place for accountants and lawyers. This ethical code is intended to oblige retail bankers to act in the customer’s best interests. Bankers who persistently fail to comply would be barred from membership of the profession. To that end, the RBA believes that the foundation stone for a retail banking profession must be the complete separation of retail banking from both investment banking and large-scale corporate banking.

In 2012 the UK Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards accepted evidence from a number of participants operating in the banking sector. The Retail Banking Academy was one of the participants, and its submission was included in selected submissions in its final published report, Changing Banking for Good, which outlines the radical reform required to improve standards across the banking industry.

In October 2014, the organisation changed its name from the International Academy of Retail Banking to the Retail Banking Academy.

The RBA offers a large variety of programmes such as:

The Certified Retail Banker programme was designed by senior retail bankers and academics from around the world. Since 2011 the qualification strategy has evolved to grow with sector demands, for example, it was made available in the French language in 2012. To become a Certified Retail Banker, and to be able to use the designation CRB, you need to join RBA Membership and successfully pass examinations at three separate levels.

Retail Banking I was designed to introduce candidates to the theoretical and practical core competencies that are required for success within a retail banking organisation. It is ideal for retail bankers looking to broaden their scope and banking knowledge.

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