The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) recently held its 8th Chartered Banker Conferment ceremony, honouring the commitment of banking professionals who exemplify the highest standards of professional excellence and lifelong learning in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing financial environment. Held under the theme “Charting the Growth of Finance”, the ceremony underscored the growing importance of nurturing future-ready and ethical banking and finance professionals, especially in light of rising challenges in cybersecurity, data privacy, sustainable finance, and the accelerating impact of digital transformation and fintech.
Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Dato’ Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, who delivered the special address at the ceremony, said: “Malaysia has invested significantly in developing talent in our financial sector. Over the years, we have developed a comprehensive ecosystem of talent affiliates providing training, certification, and future-looking guidance on the skills needed by the financial sector.”
At the prestigious event, AICB’s Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim was recognised by Chartered Banker Institute (CBI) for his achievement in the banking sector with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This global recognition — the first such award by CBI in over a decade — celebrates Tan Sri Azman’s decades-long leadership in promoting ethical banking and professional excellence across the region.
The ceremony also honoured the contributions of Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) with the AICB Honorary Fellowship — one of the Institute’s highest distinctions. This prestigious award recognises Governor Remolona’s transformative contributions towards fostering greater ASEAN banking integration, effective policymaking, and championing talent development within the financial sector.
As banking continues to evolve rapidly, AICB reaffirmed its commitment to professionalising and upskilling the workforce through its professional education offerings. Its flagship Chartered Banker qualification, developed in collaboration with the UK’s Chartered Banker Institute, sets the gold standard for banking professionalism. AICB also provides specialised certifications in areas such as digital transformation, financial crime prevention, sustainable finance and more.
AICB Chief Executive Edward Lingsaid, “Professionalism and upskilling in banking is no longer optional — it is essential. Through AICB’s robust education programmes, the Future Skills Framework and thought leadership initiatives in key areas such as digital innovation and sustainable finance, we aim to equip our members with the critical skills and professional foundation needed to navigate and innovate the future of banking and finance.”
The ceremony also conferred the prestigious Fellow Chartered Banker (FCB) status on 14 distinguished industry leaders, including AICB Council Member Dato’ Mohd Rashid Mohamad, Group Managing Director /Group Chief Executive Officer of RHB Bank Berhad. 71 AICB members were conferred the Chartered Banker (CB) status, while over 500 members attained the Associate Chartered Banker status.