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The BBA and CFA Institute Announce New Initiative To Promote the Claritas Investment Certificate to the Banking Industry

18 June, 2014
London United Kingdom
Investment certificate programme to be integrated into BBA’s Learning Academy offering to improve understanding of the investment industry and raise standards across the banking and finance sector

CFA Institute and BBA Enterprises (BBAE) today launch a new collaborative initiative which sees the Claritas® Investment Certificate included on the BBA Enterprises professional qualifications list of approved partners. The agreement signals the continued commitment of CFA Institute and BBAE to address key challenges facing the industry on trust and ethics, through raising the levels of investment knowledge and professional standards across the sector.

Nitin Mehta, CFA, managing director of CFA Institute for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, commented: “We have just celebrated the first anniversary of the global launch of the Claritas Investment Certificate, and partnering with the BBA Enterprises is a fantastic way to mark the milestone in the UK. The purpose of Claritas is simple: to bring clarity about the investment industry to those working in financial services from across different non-investment disciplines and geographies, creating a common language and culture that raises both standards and confidence. The BBA is a natural partner for CFA Institute as a leading voice in the banking industry, and we are delighted to be able to offer the benefits of the Claritas programme to their members and their employees.”

Keith Phillips, Executive Director at BBAE, noted that this alliance represents a key investment in education and support for best-in-class offerings to BBA members and wider financial and professional services sectors with which it connects. “The Claritas Investment Certificate is a result of a global call to action for the finance industry to play a more active role in promoting knowledge and trust within the financial services community. This strategy mirrors our own and with the advent of this partnership, we anticipate that our members will benefit from a high standard for globally recognised professional qualifications and educational excellence.”

The Claritas Investment Certificate, recently benchmarked by UK NARIC*, provides candidates with a thorough understanding of how the investment industry works and their professional responsibilities within it, thus representing a new international education and ethics standard across the financial services sector. The programme is accessible to a wide range of professionals working with investment decision makers in functions such as operations, administration, IT, HR, marketing, sales, compliance and customer service. It is a self-study course which requires between 80 to 100 hours of study over a six month period and is made up of seven modules, covering the industry, tools, instruments, structure, controls, client methods, and ethics, culminating in a single self-scheduled, online exam at a proctored testing centre. On successful completion of the examination, candidates will be awarded a certificate of knowledge.

*The Claritas Investment Certificate was recently benchmarked by the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom as equivalent to post-secondary education training or specialised secondary level education (such as an ‘A’ Level). 

About the British Bankers Association

The BBA is the UK’s leading association for the banking and financial services sector, representing the interests of more than 240 member organisations with a worldwide presence in 180 countries. Our member banks make up the world’s largest international banking cluster, collectively representing more than £7trn in UK banking assets and operating 150 million accounts for UK customers. BBA members represent every aspect of retail, wholesale, corporate and private banking  and contribute over £50 billion annually to UK economic growth.

About the Claritas® Investment Certificate

Claritas is designed for all in the investment industry who help enable investment decision making – from client services to operations, compliance and legal, from human resources to sales and marketing.

The online self-study course requires approximately 100 hours of study over a three to six month period, culminating in a 2 hour multiple choice exam, with a syllabus covering essentials including: ethics and regulation, structure of the industry, the various asset classes and client needs. As the name suggests, everything about Claritas - from online support to the look and feel - has been designed to be as clear as possible for participants.

About BBA Learning Academy

The BBA Learning Academy provides best-in-class training services and consulting solutions to the banking sector by working closely with members and the wider financial services sector to offer training that meets the ever-changing needs and regulatory requirements of the industry. With extensive insight and knowledge derived from our unique position at the heart of the industry, training with the BBA Learning Academy enables individuals and member organisations to fully prepare for future challenges.

The BBA Learning Academy provides training workshops, eLearning, professional qualifications and consulting services with benefits that:

  • Promote training as a conduit for achieving the organisation’s strategic goals
  • Comply with the latest regulation, legislation and market infrastructures affecting the industry
  • Take advantage of the BBA’s proven track-record in delivering efficient and effective training that builds your employees’ confidence in their knowledge and skills.
CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow.

Media Contact

Nicole Haroutunian Director, Corporate Communications EMEA +44-0-20-7330-9551 [email protected]