Certified Down Under
Ankur Sharda , CRB
As part of our mission to raise the standards of retail banking worldwide , RBA has reached out to every corner of the globe . Our first Australian Certified Retail Banker is Ankur Sharda , a Solutions Delivery Manager for ING Australia . Ankur has over 10 years of Retail Banking experience and has used his studies with RBA to breakdown the silos within his bank , gaining a better understanding of the business context in his role and its impact .
Q . How did you find the course content overall ?
A . “ I found the course very informative and interesting – It ’ s made me more confident in working with business stakeholders across the organisation as I can discuss their business in greater depth .”
Q . What skills have you gained from the process in becoming certified and what is its effect ?
A . “ The course gives you context around why certain things are done across the business and the value it adds .” Ankur also noticed that his ability to articulate ideas and challenge existing processes has improved , allowing him to add value to every conversation he ’ s involved in . “ You are able to relate your observations and can feel confident your organisation is on the right path . It also gives you the confidence to suggest improvements , sure in the knowledge of the positive impact it will have .”
Q . How did you become a Certified Banker in the short time of 18 months ?
A . “ I made extensive use of the eLearning platform , taking the time to cover all interactive modules and read the online course material . While at home I preferred to use the hard copy coursebook . I would be sure to make notes along the way to clarify complex or important concepts which was helpful for revision in the end .” He also noted the role the case studies and mock exams played in his success , taking the mock exams multiple times to strengthen his knowledge and identify any gaps in his knowledge well before his exam .
Q . How did you practise good study habits ?
A . “ While studying for Retail Banking II , Ankur became a father . This necessitated a change in study habits and an adjustment to his study schedule to accommodate the latest addition to the family . When asked how he managed his time , Ankur said “ I tried to read whenever I had some time , even for 20 minutes or so .” He then discussed how he ensured he had the course material to hand in physical and digital form so he could study “ on the go ” from his laptop , when needed . Ankur also stressed the importance of taking at least one hour each day to study , and commended the support he received from his employer , ING Australia , which enabled him to work and study from home when preparing for exams .”
Q . Do you have any words of encouragement for existing or potential candidates ?
A . “ Don ’ t rush through the course , take your time to understand the concepts . There is a lot of information on the eLearning platform – make good use of it and don ’ t forget to use the forums – you can gain a lot of insights from your peers there .” www . retailbanking-academy . org
FOLLOW RBA