Transition Arrangements

You can now continue your studies under our new framework to become an Associate Chartered Banker.

Under this framework, you must complete four certificates to achieve Associate status. Your Professional Banker Certificate already counts as one, meaning you’ll need to complete just three additional certificates:

• Certificate in Digital & AI Evolution in Banking
• Certificate in Sustainable Banking (or Certificate in Green and Sustainable Finance)
• Certificate in Corporate and Commercial Lending

Additional qualifications will be launched in 2025/26, offering even greater flexibility.

You can choose between two pathways to achieve Associate Chartered Banker status:

Option 1: Continue with the Professional Banker Diploma (PBD)

• Complete the Professional Banker Certificate (2019) plus two other PBD qualifications:

  • Certificate in Green and Sustainable Finance
  • Certificate in Climate Risk
  • Certificate in Complaint Handling

• If you are already enrolled in any of the following modules, you can complete them and have them count towards the PBD:

  • Banking Operations
  • Introduction to Business Banking
  • Credit Unions Principles and Practice
  • Introduction to Credit
  • Introduction to Risk
  • Team Leadership in Financial Services

• You must complete your PBD pathway by 1st August 2026.

Option 2: Switch to the New Qualification Framework

• Transition to the new framework and work towards becoming an Associate Chartered Banker by completing four certificates.
• Each PBD qualification you hold will count as one eligible Associate Chartered Banker certificate.
• You will only need to complete the additional certificates to reach the total of four.
• Subject options include:
  • Certificate in Digital & AI Evolution in Banking
  • Certificate in Sustainable Banking (or Certificate in Green and Sustainable Finance)
  • Certificate in Corporate and Commercial Lending

If you are already on the existing ACBD pathway, you can choose one of the following:

Option 1: Continue with Your Current Pathway

• Complete your required qualifications before 1st August 2026.
• This includes:
  • Certificate in Professionalism & Ethics (2018/19)
  • Either the Certificate in Personal & Private Banking (2018/19) or the Certificate in Commercial Lending (2018/19).

Option 2: Switch to the New Qualification Framework

• Under the new framework, you’ll need to complete four Associate-level certificates to achieve Associate Chartered Banker status.
• Options include:
  • Professional Banker Certificate
  • Certificate in Digital & AI Evolution in Banking
  • Certificate in Sustainable Banking (or Certificate in Green and Sustainable Finance)
  • Certificate in Corporate and Commercial Lending
• Additional qualifications will be launched in 2025/26 for even more flexibility.
• The Certificate in Personal and Private Banking (2018/19) and the Certificate in Commercial Lending (2018/19) are each equivalent to two new Associate-level qualifications. This means that if you hold either certificate, you must take another two qualifications in the new Associate framework to attain Associate member status.
• The Certificate in Professionalism and Ethics will contribute towards a new Chartered Banker pathway, rather than the Associate-level pathway. More information on Chartered Banker pathways will follow in 2024/25.

In line with extensive consultations with our members and banks, the new framework has been designed in response to both the current and future changing requirements of the banking sector, helping to build knowledge and skills as part of ongoing development and role expectations. It is our aim to equip each banking professional with the skills needed to thrive in their role, incorporating key themes of sustainability, professionalism, ethics, and digital across all qualifications.   

Under the new qualification framework, learning pathways are simpler and more flexible, allowing learners to curate their own learning journey based on their professional areas of interest.   

If you already hold Associate Chartered Banker or Chartered Banker status, this will not be affected by changes to our qualification framework. However, to keep your status you must remain a member of the Chartered Banker Institute and meet your annual CPD requirements. 

If you are currently studying a Chartered Banker Institute accredited degree with one of our university partners, or studying a Chartered Banker Institute accredited programme with one of our partner organisations, you will not be impacted in any way.