Disciplinary Regulations

All members of the Chartered Banker Institute (including Student and Affiliate members) are expected to display the professional values, attitudes and behaviours set out in the Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct. If members fail to live up to the standards expected of them, the Institute may take disciplinary action. Our Disciplinary Regulations, therefore apply to all members.

The Institute can take action when it thinks there has been a Disciplinary Breach. The Institute can take disciplinary action against any member who:

• has criminal sanctions imposed on them;

• has sanctions imposed on them by a regulator or other competent body;

• is lawfully dismissed by the member’s employer for misconduct;

• breaches, or does not comply with the Institute’s CPD requirements;

• acts in breach of the Institute’s course rules and regulations including plagiarism and/or collusion, breaching exam conditions and providing false information about existing qualifications;

• brings the Institute into disrepute;

• breaches the Code of Professional Conduct

Sanctions can only be imposed if the member admits the Disciplinary Breach or a Disciplinary Committee finds there has been a Disciplinary Breach. The sanctions include one or more of the following:

• the member to be admonished;

• a note of the members breach of the Professional Code of Conduct may be noted on the member’s record;

• all or any of the member’s benefits of membership being withdrawn;

• the member , at their own expense, to attend training or take extra tests or exams;

• any passes in previous exams or assessments may be cancelled;

• the member, at their own expense, to resit an exam or exams;

• member to be suspended from membership of the Institute;

• the member to be expelled from membership of the Institute.
 

The Institute may inform employers of any sanctions imposed and may publish any sanctions on the Chartered Banker Institute's website and in the Chartered Banker magazine. In addition to any action taken by the Institute, the member’s employer may instigate their own action and impose their own penalties.

Under the Disciplinary Regulations an Investigating Officer is appointed to investigate any alleged Disciplinary Breaches:

If the Investigating Officer decides the Institute has no jurisdiction to deal with the alleged Disciplinary Breach no further action will be taken.

If the Investigating Officer decides there is insufficient evidence to support an allegation that a Disciplinary Breach has taken place no further action will be taken.

If the Investigating Officer decides there is sufficient evidence to support an allegation that a Disciplinary breach may have taken place they will then decide whether the alleged Disciplinary Breach is a material or non-material breach.

The Investigating Officer will notify the member of the alleged Disciplinary Breach. The member can;

• admit the alleged Disciplinary Breach in which case the Institute may admonish the member. Sanctions may include a reduction in mark or a requirement to resubmit an assignment;

• deny the alleged Disciplinary Breach in which case the denial will be accepted or, if not, the case will be referred to a Disciplinary Committee for a decision.

The Investigating Officer will notify the member of the alleged Disciplinary Breach and it will be referred to a Disciplinary Committee for a decision.

Registration is valid for 12 months. Learners are expected to sit and pass the examination within that time.

Prior to the Disciplinary Hearing the member can provide details of witnesses and mitigating factors to be considered by the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will hear the Institute’s and the member’s case. Both the Institute and the member have the right to examine witnesses. If the Disciplinary Committee finds the complaint proven it must decide on the sanctions from those listed below. The member must be told of the decision and any sanctions within 14 days of a Committee Hearing.

A member can appeal a decision within 30 days of receiving notice of the decision. If the Disciplinary Committee Chairman considers there is grounds for an appeal (as set out in the Regulations) an Appeals Committee will be formed to hear the appeal.

There must be a solicitor or former solicitor (the Legal Professional) available as part of the Disciplinary Committee  chosen to hear a case if requested by the member or the Institute.  The legal professional does not represent either the member or the Institute, however either party can choose to have its own legal representative (who is not a panel member) at their own cost.  It is worth noting that at the end of the Hearing the disciplinary panel can choose to award costs to either party, but is not obliged to do so.

If a Disciplinary Committee finds there has been a breach or if an Appeals Committee dismisses an appeal the Disciplinary/Appeals Committee can order the member to pay the costs incurred by the Institute including the costs of any Legal Professional.