RBA Meet Up in London!
Retail bankers across London gathered
at the Royal Horseguards Hotel to
discuss the future of retail banking in
their country. With the Bank of England’s
UK financial stability report focusing on
increased UK household indebtedness
just a few months prior, and Brexit
discussions still under way, there has
never been a better time to discuss the
role of education in retail banking.
Guest speaker Nick Ogden (Executive
Chairman, ClearBank) explained in his
address – “Getting a certification in
retail banking is your passport” – and
that when setting up ClearBank, even
his own credentials were reviewed in
the proposal, with no guarantee of
him securing the role despite playing
a key role in setting up the bank. Quite
simply, he said, “If you are not approved,
you don’t get the job”, a sentiment
he wholeheartedly agrees with and
exhibits when enrolling all Clearbank
employees onto the Certified Retail
Banker programme. As the first new
clearing bank in the UK in 250 years,
ClearBank has set a precedent, building
professional training and development
into its strategy to meet the demands of
an ever-changing industry.
RBA Chairman Michael Lafferty then
opened the floor to questions from
attendees and there was a group
discussion on the prospect of paperless
and cardless banking in the future.
With some interesting insights and the
anticipation of possibility in their stride,
our attendees left the Royal Horseguards
Hotel with a greater determination to act
in the best interests of their customers.