Become a Fellow

Applications for Fellowship reopen in March 2025

We believe that all Members of our Institute should aspire to become Chartered Fellows. It is the highest status conferred by the Institute upon individuals who have distinguished themselves in their careers. To be elected a Fellow you must be considered by our Board of Trustees to have made a significant contribution to banking and to the objectives of the Institute.

Like all members, our Fellows demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development and must abide by our Code of Professional Conduct. Fellows are expected to act as role models and mentors for others in the profession, as champions for banking professionalism and as ambassadors for the Institute and wider banking profession.

You can recognise one of our Fellows through their use of the designatory letters FCBI after their name, and those qualified as such may use the professional designation Chartered Banker.

Please note the following:

Fellows who are qualified as Chartered Bankers may, in addition, refer to themselves as Chartered Fellows.  We recommend, however, that in most cases it may be preferable to use the designatory letters FCBI followed by Chartered Banker, e.g. Janet Smith FCBI, Chartered Banker.

Applications are accepted annually during March and April. We have adopted a cohort approach, and individuals within the same cohort will benefit from networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities. More information on the application process and eligibility requirements can be found below.

Eligibility requirements

Candidates:

must be experienced banking practitioners with ten years' experience in banking to be eligible for Fellowship
must hold or attain Chartered Banker status
have made a significant contribution to the work of the Institute and the banking profession
demonstrate an ongoing commitment to continuing professional development
act as a role model and mentor to others in the profession, and
membership subscriptions must be up to date. Note: On attaining fellowship, new Fellows are required to pay the Fellows membership rate at their next renewal date

Attaining Chartered Banker status requires completion of an advanced professional qualification recognised by the Institute, which includes the study of professionalism and ethics, and appropriate coverage of credit and lending.

In assessing candidates’ suitability, we will look for evidence of a breadth of experience which might be demonstrated through some of the following:

Evidence of leadership qualities e.g., leadership style, leading a team through change, mentoring/coaching others and communication skills
Building and maintaining technical knowledge
Commitment to learning and development e.g., CPD, professional networks and through other qualifications
Professionalism and ethics
Managing cultural shift
Delivering successful projects
Developing and implementing strategy.

Fast-track to Fellowship

For experienced banking professionals who do not hold Chartered Banker status but would otherwise meet the criteria for Fellowship, we offer a fast-track route combined with an application for Chartered Banker by Experience. Candidates who are eligible for our Chartered Banker by Experience qualification will be considered for Fellowship and, if approved, may be awarded Fellowship on condition of completing the qualification.

Your suitability for the Chartered Banker by Experience qualification will be assessed before your application for Fellowship is considered. However, applicants should be aware that being accepted onto the Chartered Banker by Experience Programme is not a guarantee that your application for Fellowship will be approved. Similarly, being considered for Fellowship is not a guarantee that you will complete the Chartered Banker by Experience programme.

The Institute’s Board of Trustees may, at its discretion, recognise and recommend additional pathways to meeting the qualification requirement. Please contact us before applying for Fellowship if you wish to seek recognition of an alternative route.

Responsibilities

Election to Fellowship is a mark of achievement and success. It is also an expectation of service. The role of a Fellow is to contribute, in whatever way they are able, to promoting and achieving the aims and objectives of the institute. This contribution should include the encouragement of colleagues to become professionally qualified and engaged as members of the Institute.

We ask that our Fellows:

are active advocates, promoting the Institute whenever and wherever the opportunity arises;
mentor, encourage and support other members of the Institute and the wider banking profession;
encourage others to professionally qualify with the Institute, and help to develop and nurture them during their careers; and
support our work through active participation, involvement and willing advice.

Fellowship is about promoting the high ethical, professional and technical standards needed to rebuild public confidence and trust in the banking profession and growing the Institute so our influence and expertise make a positive difference to the culture of our financial services industry.

The application process

Applications are scheduled to reopen in March 2025.

Applications are considered annually. We have adopted a cohort approach, and individuals within the same cohort will benefit from networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
Applications for Fellowship should be made using the appropriate online form, accompanied by a current CV. Candidates are also required to submit a short (2-3 minute) video ‘pitch’. Guidance on the video can be found within the application form.
All nominations require a proposer and seconder who will be asked to provide a reference that the candidate meets the requirements for Fellowship. These may be existing Fellows of the Institute, or individuals who have known the candidate in a business or education capacity for at least two years. This could include appropriate representatives of Financial Services organisations or a current/former employer. Sponsors must be easily searchable online to confirm their name and role.
We will provide support at the outset by appointing a current Fellow of the Institute (as a ‘mentor’) to consider applications on a one-to-one basis with candidates and discuss what it means to be a Fellow. They will either support the candidate’s application to join the current cohort or provide constructive feedback as to why they can’t support this at the current time. If they can’t support the application, it might be that the candidate needs to consider whether Fellowship is the right choice for them or reapply at a later date.
All candidates who meet the eligibility requirements will have their applications reviewed. This will normally include a review of the candidates’ pitches, along with their application forms and CVs, together with any feedback from the Fellowship mentors. NB: in some circumstances an additional interview with a candidate may be requested, for example, if further information is needed. Following this, candidates who are recommended for Fellowship will be considered for final approval by the Institute’s Board of Trustees.

If you believe that a part of the application process would cause you difficulty, please contact us to discuss any specific barriers that you might have. This could, for example, be due to a disability or the result of a health condition. The Institute is willing to offer support where possible, provided the requirements for Fellowship are met.

Chartered Banker by Experience

Chartered Banker by Experience is designed for experienced banking professionals who wish to gain Chartered Banker status and become members of the Chartered Banker Institute. The qualification is intended for individuals who:

Have at least 10 years of business experience, including 5 years of relevant banking and financial services experience;
Want recognition for their expertise, experience and contribution to banking;
Aim to meet current and emerging regulatory requirements for the demonstration of high professional standards; and
Seek an accelerated, flexible yet rigorous route to Chartered Banker status.

Find out more here.

How do I apply for Fellowship?

Applications for Fellowship should be submitted using the appropriate online Fellowship application form. Applications require the support of a proposer and seconder. These should be individuals who could, if requested, provide confirmation of your significant contribution to banking and to the objects of the Institute. They might be existing Fellows of the Institute but they do not need to be. If not Fellows, the proposer and seconder must usually have known the nominee in a business or education capacity for a minimum of two years. You will also need to submit a short (2-3 minute) video 'pitch', outlining your reasons for wanting to become a Fellow and what you hope to contribute.

Is it possible to make the nomination without the form?

Fellowship is the highest status conferred on members by our Institute. For this reason, the Board of Trustees requires all candidates to complete and sign a declaration on the application form, to ensure that prospective Fellows meet the required standards of professional and ethical behaviour. In completing the proposal form, proposers and seconders are also asked to confirm that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, candidates for Fellowship meet these required standards.

How long does it take to approve a Fellowship nomination?

The Institute has adopted a cohort approach with applications currently submitted in March and April. For qualified Chartered Bankers the approval process would typically take up to 3-4 months but may be shorter. Individuals on the fast track route who are required to complete Chartered Banker by Experience may take longer as final confirmation of Fellowship is dependent on completion of the qualification. The Institute will seek supporting statements from the proposer and seconder, and this can be a source of delay so it is helpful to ensure sponsors are aware that they will be contacted. Failure to attach a CV with the application or to send the requested video statement may also cause delay as the application will not be processed until all information has been obtained.

When is Fellowship confirmed?

Fellowship may be formally conferred at a recognition event to which the newly elected Fellow has been invited. However, candidates are entitled to refer to themselves as Fellows and to use the designation FCBI as soon as the Board of Trustees has formally advised them of their election to the roll of Fellows. In order to use and maintain their designation, Fellows are required to maintain their membership of the Institute and satisfy the annual CPD requirements.

What action do you take if the information supplied is incorrect?

Before submission, please check information supplied very carefully to avoid errors or discrepancies. If, prior to approval by the Board of Trustees, the information provided on the application form is found to be inaccurate or misleading, then the application is liable to be rejected. If this is discovered after the award of Fellowship has been made then, following further investigation, the Fellowship may be withdrawn and individuals may become subject to disciplinary action.

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