Associate Banking Diploma — Option Subject
Lending and International Business
Objective
1. To enable the student demonstrate his/her understand of the techniques of good credit assessment with particular emphasis on evaluating the risks associated with lending to personal customers, smaller and middle market business customers.
2. To enable students demonstrate the ways in which international trade is undertaken, settled and financed.
SYLLABUS CONTENTS
Module I: LENDING: (This section should account for 70% of the studies in this subject)
1. Canons of good lending
2. Analysis, interpretation of financial statements and decision making for a lending proposition - using;
- balance sheets
- profit and loss statements
- cash flow statements
- budgets and cash flow forecasts.
3. Lending requirements for different types of businesses such as:
- retailing
- other service industries
- wholesaling
- manufacturing
- farming
- building
- franchising
- ‘professionals’ - e.g. doctors, dentists, solicitors, accountants, etc.

(This list is not exhaustive).
4. Securities - Overview on features of a good security and types.
- Kind of security that would be appropriate and its conditions. (including interest rates and fees)
5. Advances to personal customers, including house mortgages, bridging loans and probate advances.

MODULE 2: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS (This section should account for 30% of the studies in this subject)

1. Inter-Bank Nostro and Loro/Vostro Accounts

The accounting methods used by banks to make transfer of funds to banks in other countries. Operation of nostro and loro accounts.
2. Remittance and Receipt of Funds

Advantages and disadvantages of various ways of transferring funds between individuals and in different countries. SWIFT: speed of operation.
3. Rate of Exchange

Factors affecting foreign exchange rates. System and procedures for buying and selling foreign currency.
4. International Trade for Exporters and Importers
  (a) Meaning of international trade its risks and problems:
    - advantages and disadvantages of settlement in foreign currencies, factors which affect the movement of rates exchange risks e.g. forward contracts.
- Commercial terms (icoterms) and documents used in foreign trade
- international payment systems and electronic banking services - cheques, drafts, mail & telegraphic transfers, SWIFT, credit cards and giro
- collection of cheques and bills of exchange - clean and documentary
- the main types of documentary letters of credit their requirements and operation
  (b) Financial Services from Banks and other Sources
- documentary letters of credit as means of obtaining finance
- the different types of short - export finance, including overdrafts and loans, taking to account security and recourse
- Pre-shipment finance by banks
- negotiating and discounting of foreign/domestic cheques and bills of exchange
- acceptance credit accounts
- other services including; bank guarantees, bond, forfeiting, factoring, LIFFE.
  (c) Trade promotion assistance/advice from banks and other sources:
Through overseas representation, including agents and distributors international franchising and licensing operations in general terms only, International services from banks, letter of introduction, sources of information/advice, using correspondent banks status reports, economic conditions entry to overseas markets etc.

THE EXAMINATION

Time Allowed: Three hours

Examination Format: The paper consists of two parts:
Section A: Lending: There are 4 questions. Attempt at least two.
Section B: International Business Operations. There are three questions. Attempt at least one question. Candidates to attempt four questions in all each 25 marks.

RECOMMENDED READING

A) LENDING
C. N. Rouse, Bankers’ Lending Techniques (CIB/Bankers Books).
C. N. Rouse, Applied Lending Techniques (CIB/Bankers Books).
P. McGregor, Lending - Bankers Workbook (CIB/Sheffield Hallam University).
H. H. Hutchinson & L. S. Dyer, Interpretation of Balance Sheets (CIB/Bankers Books).
B. Hayter, How to Pass Lending (CIB/Bankers Books).

For Revision

BPP, Lending: Study Text (BPP Publishing).
T. Smith, Accounting for Growth: Stripping the Camouflage from company Accounts (Century Business).
A. M. Davies & M. Kearns, Banking Operations - UK Lending and International Business (Pitman/CIB).

Further Readings

D. Cox, Success in Elements of Banking (John Murray).

For revision

G. Sales, Banking Operations - UK Lending and International Business Revision Card Pack (CIB/Bankers Books).

Computer Assisted Learning

A Computer Assisted Learning course is available for this subject. For an information pack, including details of the lending scheme available to students, contact CIB London.

B) INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS

A. J. W. Watson, Finance of International Trade (CIB/Bankers Book).
D. B. Cox, Trade Finance - Payments and Services: Personal Course for Bankers (Nothwick Publishers).
BPP Trade Finance: Payments and Services; Study Text (BPP Publishing).
B. J. Beecham & D. P. Whiting, Trade Finance - Payments and Services (Pitman).

Further Readings

International Chamber of Commerce - Guide to Documentary Credit Operations (ICC No. 415).