Retail Banking Training and Professional Banking Qualifications
Retail Banking Institute provides professional online retail banking training and certification. We specialise in retail banking, which is the main profit engine for most banks. Retail banking is a very dynamic profession, requiring great energy, skill and expertise.
Our principal offering is the three-level Certified International Retail Banker programme. Graduates of the foundation programme are awarded the Affiliate International Retail Banker certificate. Graduates of the management-level programme receive the Associate International Retail Banker certificate, and graduates of the leadership programme receive the Certified International Retail Banker certificate.
The programmes run on a weekly schedule. The Certified international Retail Banker programme is delivered over 8 weeks and the Affiliate International Retail Banker and Associate International Retail Banker programmes take 10 weeks.
The programmes can be delivered in-house, at a banking institute, as blended learning, or as self-paced learning. The blended learning method requires candidates to follow a weekly schedule that includes three to four hours of study and participation in a weekly live tutorial. Testing is done through continuous assessment, with a short exam following each individual module.
What will you get from the programmes?
The programmes are designed to provide you with the knowledge of international best practice in retail banking, and practical methods of putting best practice to work in your local context. We use case studies to illustrate excellence in customer experience and customer satisfaction, sales techniques, operations and IT, application of data analytics and machine learning, marketing, branding, risk management, product management and people management.
Our programmes help banking professionals build practical skills in key areas including:
- customer experience
- sales techniques
- retail credit
- data, analytics and AI
- risk management
- digital banking
- bank management and leadership
Our courses are delivered online as blended learning, where candidates complete one module a week by studying the material, attending a live online tutorial with our expert faculty, and taking a short exam.
Banks can also run our programmes in-house for teams and leadership groups.
Our faculty members bring real and deep experience from the retail banking industry across emerging and developed markets. They can help you understand the challenges banks face today — including digital transformation, rising customer expectations, and the delivery of sustainable growth in markets that are sensitive to external shocks.
Globally Recognised Professional Retail Banking Training for Leaders and Teams
At Retail Banking Institute, we provide globally respected online retail banking training programmes that meet the needs of ambitious banking professionals at every stage of their careers. Our Certified International Retail Banker (CIRB) pathway is a three-tiered, blended learning programme designed to deliver practical, strategic, and leadership-level expertise in modern retail banking.
Whether you're a seasoned executive, a mid-level manager, or an emerging leader, the CIRB programme equips you with the tools to run, change, and lead the bank, preparing you to navigate the future of financial services with confidence.
Affiliate Level – Run the Bank
The Affiliate programme builds strong foundations by focusing on customer-centric banking, compliance, and intelligent data management. Participants gain practical skills in customer service, sales techniques, operations, risk, and retail credit – growing their ability to deliver value in a regulated, trust-based environment. This level is ideal for professionals developing core capabilities within retail banking.
Associate Level – Change the Bank
The Associate programme is designed for managers driving innovation and growth. It focuses on advanced customer segmentation, personalised product development, and data-driven decision-making. Participants learn to increase agility and efficiency within the bank, and how to unlock new revenue streams in dynamic markets, enabling faster payments, and building efficient and effective delivery of digital services.
Certified Level – Lead the Bank
Aimed at senior leaders and executives, the Certified programme guides candidates in strategic leadership in the age of fintech disruption and digital transformation. Participants engage with real-world case studies and cutting-edge insights from RBI's Retail Banking Councils, gaining the foresight to lead successful retail banking transformation at scale.
Digital Payments Professional Certificate
Our Digital Payments Professional Certificate is designed to help banks and digital payments businesses build a common language about the fast-growing world of digital payments. Enabled by smartphones, cloud computing, and interoperability, digital payments are a wonderful new development, encouraged by banks, fintechs, regulators and governments. Followers of retail banking will know that some of the best new digital banks started off in the last ten years as digital payments operators. We help digital payments businesses to bring a common language and understanding across their teams. Learn how virtual cards, digital wallets, issuers, acquirers, APIs, instant payments systems, and digital assets all work together to create a faster and more efficient payments system. Find out more here.
Why Professionals Choose the Retail Banking Institute:
We offer industry-led certification built by global banking experts for real-world relevance. Along with our scheduled blended learning programmes, we offer self-paced flexible online banking training you can take anytime, from anywhere, with training material supplemented by recorded tutorials.
We are recognised by banks globally, and trusted by financial institutions and professionals around the world.
Retail banking has been the main focus of Lafferty Group since our establishment in the city of London in 1981, forty-five years ago. It is a fascinating sector with vast potential for future growth. With additional drive provided by fintech partnerships, retail banking helps the world's consumers, small businesses and the better off with their financial needs, from payments and savings to loans and investments. Investors value the sector highly, with stock market valuations of retail bank earnings often exceeding those of other banking sectors. We are proud to support the industry not only with education, knowledge and intelligence but also through our commitment to providing world-class professional retail banking education and internationally recognised Retail Banking training programmes.
Dr Ronan Lynch, Director, RBI
Discover the perfect programme tailored to your individual needs or company goals
Professional Retail Banking Education for the Future of Finance
Imagine the excitement of creating a modern, fully digital retail bank, a bank managed by real professionals, with more potential than all the fintechs in the world. A bank prepared from day one to deal with climate change. A bank built on an unwavering ethical foundation.
This is the bank that the Certified International Retail Banker qualification is designed for and it's brought to life through our Professional retail banking education and globally recognised retail banking training programmes.
Lafferty Group
Contact Us
enquiries@lafferty.com
caroline.hastings@lafferty.com
The Leeson Enterprise Centre
Altamont Street
Westport, Co. Mayo
Ireland
F28 ET85