The Chartered Banker Institute is a global professional education body for bankers, based in the UK. Established by Royal Charter, we are a not-for-profit educational charity with a mission to enhance and sustain socially purposeful, responsible, professional banking in the public interest. We do this by developing and supporting bankers’ education and professional development throughout their careers, in particular in the areas of:
- Core banking skills, including credit and lending, and risk management
- Professional ethics, culture and conduct
- Digital finance
- Green and sustainable finance, aligned with the UN Principles for Responsible Banking and UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Bank management and leadership
We are the largest UK professional body for bankers, with more than 35,000 members – individual banking professionals who make an ongoing commitment to developing their customer-focused ethical professionalism.
We are proud to be oldest banking institute in the world, and proud to be the only organisation in the world approved by the UK’s Privy Council to award the “Chartered Banker” designation to members meeting the highest standards of professionalism. Founded in 1875 as the Institute of Bankers in Scotland, our work today is as important as it was 140 years ago. Our global impact and influence continues to grow, with members and students in over 100 countries worldwide.
To mark our centenary in 1975, we received our Royal Charter, recognising the Institute’s substantial contribution to developing the practice and profession of banking. In 2018 we were granted a Supplementary Charter, acknowledging our wider, global remit and role.
Together, the Chartered Banker Institute and our members are proud of the professionalism we bring to banking around the world, and of the contribution we are making individually and collectively, to a sustainable banking profession.
History of the Chartered Banker Institute
1875
Founded
We were founded in July 1875 as the Institute of Bankers in Scotland, with the aim of improving the qualifications of those engaged in banking and to improve their status and influence. Andrew William Kerr is appointed the first secretary. Annual Reports from 1876 may be viewed on application to the Institute.
1909
The Scottish Banker magazine is launched
The Scottish Banker magazine is launched, now known as Chartered Banker magazine.
1925
We celebrate our first 50 years
We celebrate our first fifty years by reflecting on the similar assistance we have given to similar bodies overseas, many of which were established on similar lines, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hungary, India and South Africa.
1975
HM the Queen grants the Institute a Royal Charter
HM the Queen, on the advice of the Privy Council, grants a Royal Charter to us, to mark our contribution to banking education and continuing professional expertise.
1988
Young Banker Launched
The Young Banker of the Year competition is established.
1995
Continuing Professional Development is introduced
The first (voluntary) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements are introduced. They are now mandatory for most categories of member.
2000
Granted the right to award Chartered Banker
The Privy council grants the Institute the unique right to award "Chartered Banker" status to suitably qualified members. The Institute publishes its first "Professional Ethics" textbook, the first to be published by a Professional body in the banking and finance sector.
2001
The FEP is established
The Banking Education Partnership (now the Financial Education Partnership) is established to offer education to school children provided by our volunteer members - one of the first programmes in the U.K. By 2012, the Financial Partnership was delivering more than 800 workshops to more than 30,000 school children, all free of charge.
2011
CB:PSB is launched
Responding to calls for increased professionalism following the UK banking crisis, we launch the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board (CB:PSB) initially with 9 of the UK's major banks covering some 75% of the UK banking workforce. The CB:PSB develops the first Code of Conduct for UK bankers, and commences work on developing detailed professional standards. These standards will set out the knowledge, skills attitudes and behaviours expected of all bankers.
2012
Accredited Body Status Granted
We are accorded Accredited Body status by the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA). International interest in aligning to the values of Chartered Banker grows, as the Chartered Banker programme is launched in Asia with the support of the Institute of Bankers in Malaysia.
2016
Membership Reaches 30,000
Membership of the Chartered Banker Institute reaches 30,000
2017
Established the 2025 Foundation
The 2025 Foundation aims to identify and support talented young people who would benefit from financial and other support to start to pursue a career in banking.
2017
Chartered Body Alliance Launched
Recognising our primary duty to the public of enhancing and sustaining professionalism in financial services, we launched the Chartered Body Alliance with the Chartered Insurance Institute and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
2019
HM the Queen grants the Institute a new Royal Charter
HM the Queen grants a new Royal Charter, establishing our Institute as the Chartered Banker Institute, the UK’s professional body for bankers with growing global impact and influence.