Principles of Banking Certificate - Individual

The Principles of Banking Certificate Program offers a comprehensive look at the banking industry. This certificate is ideal for employees new to banking and those looking to enrich their understanding of how a bank is structured, operates financially, serves its customers and community and stays safe and compliant.

The Principles of Banking Certificate Program consists of 12 courses and takes approximately 7 hours to complete. Each course includes an exam.

This Certificate Program is an online, self-paced program which provides a certificate of completion and does not require continuing education. It is not the same as ICBA’s certification programs, which are instructor led and require continuing education in order to maintain the specific designation.

The Principles of Banking Certificate Program is available for bank-wide use (unlimited number of learners) and on an individual basis. Purchasing an Individual Certificate Program grants access to the person who has logged into the ICBA website to purchase. It cannot be transferred to another user.

Courses:

Banking Landscape: The banking landscape has changed dramatically over the course of the history of the United States.  Banks play an important role in the community and the economy. In this course, you’ll learn a brief history of banking, review how a bank works and discuss how banks are influenced by its employees, customers, competitors and regulators.

Bank Structure: Banks have a unique structure due to their role as a financial intermediary, regulatory requirements and role in the community.  There are important decisions to make when organizing a bank and thinking about the services your bank will provide.  In this course, we’ll learn about the unique structure of a bank as a financial intermediary.

Banking Finance: Bank financial statements are widely used by bankers, shareholders, employees, competitors and regulators to review the success and health of the bank.  We’ll break down some of the basics to give you a better understanding of those financial statements and how a bank balances its role of making money for shareholders, managing risk and serving the community on a day to day basis.

Banking Products & Services: Part 1: This course will review a variety of deposit and loan products that the bank offers.  We’ll discuss the processes that go into opening these accounts.  We’ll also review Trust and Wealth Management products that banks offer.

Banking Products & Services: Part 2: This course expands on the traditional products discussed in the course Banking Products and Services: Part I and reviews a number of electronic and non-electronic banking products and services.

This course reviews traditional banking, cash management (also called treasury management), and international banking services offered by community banks. This course discusses the many different types of payment methods used by customers including cash, checks, cards, electronic payments and mobile wallet.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is a U.S. government agency that exists to protect the money people put into banks.  This course discusses the basic functions of the FDIC, the rules that apply to different types of deposits, and how to ensure that bank policies and procedures are in compliance with FDIC regulations regarding deposit insurance.

Product Knowledge & Cross-Selling: As a frontline employee, you are often called upon to open a new account. In this situation, you need an excellent understanding of your bank's products and services.

You have to be able to answer questions. And, of course, you want to provide the best possible customer service. In this course, we will look at how knowledge of your bank’s products and services will help you meet customer needs and build strong customer relationships.

Compliance Laws & Regulations: Banking laws and regulations have existed for nearly a century. It is important bankers are aware of these regulations in order to follow the banks policies and procedures for complying with the rules. In this course we’ll discuss compliance laws and regulations related to deposit accounts, loans, fair lending, the Bank Secrecy Act and other general areas of banking. 

CAMELS:The Uniform Financial Institution Rating System (UFIRS), more commonly known as CAMELS rating, is an internal rating system used by the banking regulators for assessing the soundness of financial institutions on a uniform basis. The system also helps identify institutions requiring closer supervisory attention. This course describes each of the six components of the CAMELS rating and the principal evaluation factors that relate to each component.

Safeguarding Customer Information: This course will review the role of banks in protecting its customer’s financial information. We’ll look at what is considered nonpublic personal information, the places that you are exposed to this information and the steps you and your bank take to protect it. 

We’ll look at processes that are in place within your bank office, and your online and mobile banking to safeguard information.  In addition, we’ll review processes that your bank takes to safeguard its own assets and the economy.  

Physical Security: Banks are responsible for putting in place controls to protect personnel, assets, hardware, programs, networks and information from physical circumstances and events that could cause loss or damage to the bank or its customers. This course will discuss an overview of the bank’s security program, physical security controls put into place at a bank, robbery and other violence, and disaster recovery programs.

Banking Fraud: This course will review different types of fraud that affect the banking industry.  It will discuss counterfeiting, check fraud, identity theft, insider fraud, elder abuse and cybercrime.  Included are steps the bank may take to prevent customer fraud along with resources to assist its customers in prevention and identity theft recovery.