The Hindu Business Line : IIBF diploma course for graduates

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 6 The Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) has started a diploma course in Banking and Finance (DBF) for graduates of any discipline or students in the final year of graduation.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of IIBF, Mr P.J. Lonappan, said here on Thursday that the diploma was being offered in association with Manipal Universal Learning.

Jaiib equivalent

The course, equivalent to Junior Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers (JAIIB), is aimed at fulfilling the demand for qualified manpower for the banking sector, which is expected to grow in the coming years.

He said that there would be large-scale retirement of bank employees over the next three to five years. This apart, there would be increasing demand for staff to cater to the expansion of branch networks both within the country and abroad.

It is in this context that the institute, which was hitherto giving courses only to members, decided to open itself to the public. The employees in the BPO/outsourcing sector also can join the course for career advancement.

Competition

Mr Lonappan said that the country’s banking sector would be opened up by 2009 with the foreign banks no more requiring licences to start branches in the country.

This would lead to stiff competition for Indian banks from foreign entities, which are equipped with cutting edge technology and sophisticated products. The IIBF is gearing to prepare Indian banks to stand up to the competition, he noted.

Mr Pradeep Shankar, Chief General Manager, State Bank of Travancore, said the bank was planning to recruit 400 clerical staff and about 40 officers in the current year.