Certificate in Business Banking (CertBB)

Professional qualifications

Certificate in Business Banking (CertBB)

Whether you’re starting a career in business banking – or want to progress in your current role – this industry-recognised qualification will give you the skills you need to get ahead.

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About the qualification

The needs and demands of business banking customers are changing. Banks need more focus on early warning signs and managing problem loans to support their customers. The Certificate in Business Banking (CertBB) will help you meet these challenges.

CertBB will give you a solid understanding of your customers, their requirements and the products available to them. It will teach you about credit risk, managing problem loans and digital disruption. And you'll learn about new digital technologies such as:

  • blockchain
  • distributed ledger
  • cloud
  • open banking
  • fintech
  • application programming interfaces (APIs), and
  • artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

Written by business banking professionals who understand your role, CertBB uses case studies to give you practical real-life knowledge that you can apply at work.

Your new skills and knowledge will improve the service you give your customers. This will enhance your customer relationships and ensure you’re better prepared to respond to future challenges.

While studying with us, you’ll become a Member of The London Institute of Banking & Finance (MLIBF), receiving benefits including careers support and access to professional networking events. 

Your studies will cover 

  • The business banking environment
  • The operation and features of key business banking financial products and services and how these are changing
  • Macro-economic influences affecting the UK business banking sector
  • The role of the relationship manager, now and in the future
  • The increasing service demands of business banking customers
  • The basic principles of effective lending assessment and control
  • The use of appropriate data and information to make financial decisions and recommendations

How much does it cost?              £400 – includes your study materials and exam entry
Average time to complete Six months – but you have up to 12 months from registration to complete
Number of units  Two
How will I be assessed? Exams. View the assessment section for further details.

You can take your exam at a test centre or at home with remote invigilation

Once you’ve passed you’ll receive a digital certificate. A paper copy can also be ordered for an additional fee.
What study materials do I get?

As part of your fee, you’ll get:

  • online access to the core learning materials 
  • comprehensive range of interactive questions and activities
  • end of topic 'test your knowledge' questions
  • case studies to help you apply your learning
  • unit syllabuses
  • specimen 'mock exam' papers
  • access to our virtual library, KnowledgeBank
You will be learning on our new VLE Brightspace, click on the logo to find out more.
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How will I study? Everything is online, you can study at a pace that suits you 
Regulation
  • Registered with Ofqual in the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
  • Part of the Apprenticeship Standards for Level 3 Compliance/Risk Officer and Level 3 Senior Financial Services Customer Adviser














 

Units

CertBB has two units and you need to successfully complete both of them to achieve your certificate.

Unit 1 – The Business Banking Service and Lending Environment (BBSL)

  • Introduction to business banking focusing on the financial needs of different types of customers
  • The UK banking environment
  • How relationship managers meet customer demand for excellent service and borrowing solutions.

Unit 2 – The Principles of Lending Assessment and Control (PLAC)

  • How to base decisions on available information to assess and control business bank lending
  • The different types of product and how they relate to specific client scenarios.

Are you eligible for an exemption?

If you have qualifications from us or another awarding organisation, we may be able to count them as credits.

Find out more

Assessment

You will be assessed for each unit by a one-hour multiple-choice exam.

  • Unit 1– 50 stand-alone multiple-choice questions
  • Unit 2 – six case studies with five multiple-choice questions linking to each case study.

You can choose when to take your exam and pick from test centres nationwide or through remote invigilation.  

You will have 12 months from when you register, to complete each module and sit the exam. Your first exam is included in the registration fee for each module.

You'll need to achieve the minimum pass mark of 70% in each unit and will get your results on the same day. A breakdown of the assessment and marking structure is available on the qualification specification.

Exam and assessment information

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Request further information