AICB hosted the 24th World Conference of Banking Institutes (WCBI), a flagship event of the Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBEStB), on 28 June 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, focusing on the latest developments in capacity building, competencies and the emerging technologies shaping a future-forward workforce. Themed “Building a Workforce Fit for the Future”, the 24th WCBI 2023 aimed to assess the competencies and qualifications that are crucial for the new-age workforce in a borderless world, anticipate ESG and digital developments arising from the banking evolution, and analyse the industry’s approach towards building a sustainable pipeline of banking talents that will bring us closer towards achieving the net-zero goal.

It built on the momentum of the preceding Malaysian Banking Conference (MBC), which was held on 26–27 June 2023, where discussions covered the latest developments surrounding the green transition in the banking and financial landscape, including how banks are navigating a just transition, the decarbonisation challenge, and much more.

Over 20 leading global banking education professionals from the following organisations shared their wealth of experience and knowledge through live panel discussions and presentations on building future banking talent to inspire actionable strategies and ideas for banks to transform, adapt and prepare for the future:

Two new global banking standards by GBEStB were launched at the 24th WCBI 2023, highlighting the importance of global banking education. The Treasury Risk Principles and Operational Risk and Resilience Standards provide additional guidance on essential knowledge and competencies that are fundamental to the career of a professional banker and build on the principles of GBEStB’s five existing Standards that are mutually supportive and form a comprehensive guide to understanding core banking principles. Click here to view the launch video, and read more on GBEStB’s seven Standards here.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Exchange Ceremony was also held on the sidelines of the 24th WCBI 2023 between AICB and the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance (TABF) to facilitate knowledge sharing and closer collaboration between both parties on areas of mutual interest, particularly in the area of professional banking education. The exchange between AICB Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim and TABF Chairman Dr Jain-Rong Su was witnessed by AICB Chief Executive Edward Ling, AICB Growth and Strategic Partnerships Director Farhan Zamri and TABF Deputy Director of Overseas Business Institute Amy Fang Hsing-Yi.

Bank Negara Malaysia Deputy Governor Datuk Jessica Chew, FCB, delivered the Special Address at this conference, which drew over 200 delegates from global and local financial institutions, regulatory bodies, solutions and banking education organisations, and academia. For more information on the agenda, please click here.

The World Conference of Banking Institutes (WCBI) is a global forum that brings together a large number of central bankers, commercial bankers, finance professionals, academics, learning and development consultants, global banking and finance education providers to meet, network and share best practice on how to get ahead of the challenges associated with the future of banking. A biennial event, it was inaugurated in 1975 and was last hosted in London in 2019. It has covered a wide range of topical issues over the past 43 years and was held across the globe in Europe, Africa, Asia, America and Oceania.

The next instalment of the WCBI will be hosted by the Chartered Banker Institute in Scotland come 2025.⁠

24th WCBI 2023 Highlights