African Institutes of Bankers agreed in 1997 to form an alliance called ‘The Alliance of African Institutes of Bankers’. The 11 founding members of the alliance were Institutes of Bankers from the countries of:

• Zambia
• Botswana
• Zimbabwe
• South Africa
• Namibia
• Ghana
• Nigeria
• Mozambique
• Kenya
• Uganda and
• Tanzania

The main objective of the alliance is to develop the banking profession in member institutes through a system of a common banking professional education, syllabi and common examinations.

The alliance aims at monitoring the standard of banking education in member institutes.

The alliance will adopt a common curriculum for all member institutes and the banking qualification offered by member institutes will be accepted and recognized by all other member institutes.

Subjects
The core subjects adopted by the alliance at the Certificate and Diploma levels are:

Certificate
• Elements of Banking.
• Principles of Law.
• Accounting.
• Introduction to Economics.
• Principles of Management.

Diploma
• Financial Analysis.
• The Monetary and Financial Systems.
• International Trade Finance.
• Law Relating to Banking.
• Lending.
• Management Practice.

Options at Certificate Level
• Business Communication.
• Business Calculation.
• Marketing and Customer Services.
• Foreign Exchange and International Trade.

Options at Associateship Level
• Financial Management.
• Insurance.
• Investment.
• Law of Practice for Mortgage Lenders.
• Management Information Technology.
• Taxation.

In the adopted syllabi, there will also be options at both Certificate and Diploma levels. Member Institutes shall to adopt the syllabus of the Alliance of African Institutes of Bankers and common examinations are planned for May 2005.