RBA
F CUS
The RBA’s mission is to promote retail
banking as a recognised profession.
December 2016
From Classroom to Boardroom
Wilfrid Bocco is head of Consumer and
Commercial Banking at Ecobank Rwanda and
holds the ARB II designation from the RBA.
During his time with the RBA, Wilfrid has
been able to complete both Retail Banking I
and Retail Banking II, as well as attend two
Executive Management Programmes. His
experiences with the RBA have convinced
him to become an RBA Ambassador, helping
to raise awareness of the RBA’s mission and
improving the standards of retail bankers
around the world.
that “I think it’s perfect for my career and
where I want to be. I want to have a bigger,
more senior role in my bank. I also want to be
recognised as a pure retail banker”. Wilfrid
admits that focusing purely on retail banking
may be slightly more unorthodox, but is clear
in his prediction that “Retail banking is the
future”, echoing sentiments shared by the
RBA in saying that “we have to serve our
customers right, and ensure we give them
the right product, not just make a profit out
of investing the savings those customers are
giving us”.
Retail banking is the future
Wilfrid
highlighted
the
immediate
applicability of the course, as well as the
breadth of the content giving him the tools
to succeed in his bank: “There’s lots of things
I took from the course material, from risk
management to marketing, that I applied
straight away at work. You don’t have to wait
for an opportunity; it’s not purely theoretical.
You can apply it instantly”. In addition to this,
Wilfrid was able to make the most of the
e-learning aspect of the course, calling it the
“best way to learn” due to its convenience
and flexible study scheduling. In taking a
holistic approach to retail banking, Wilfrid is
well on his way to becoming a “True retail
banker”, excelling in all aspects of retail
banking, and linking every silo in his bank.
Wilfrid had a more interesting journey than
most to get to where he is today. Despite
being a accountant, Wilfrid spent over 12
years in the UK in a variety of positions within
retail and FMCG before he was encouraged
to make the leap to retail banking with
Ecobank. Beginning with setting up retail
banks in supermarkets, Wilfrid was able to
quickly move up the ranks, and credits his
education with the RBA as central to his
success, saying that “what I’ve learned has
helped me in my career and as a person to
develop my own objectives, and that’s why I
am where I am today”.
I think it’s perfect for my career
and where I want to be. I want to
have a bigger, more senior role in
my bank.
Having done internal training within Ecobank,
Wilfrid committed to RBA courses after
realising the value and unique opportunity
presented to him, saying that “it’s the perfect
fit, because I’m focused on becoming a true
retail banker”. Wilfrid continued by saying
You don’t have to wait for
an opportunity; it’s not purely
theoretical. You can apply it
instantly.
When discussing the wider banking industry,
Wilfrid noted: “It’s important to have a
professional retail banking qualification”,
going on to say that, while at a retail banking
conference in Africa, his colleagues from
www.retailbanking-academy.org
FOLLOW RBA
Wilfrid Bocco ARB II, being interviewed while at the 2016
Executive Management Programme
around the industry were unanimous in their
agreement of the importance and relevance
of the RBA’s qualifications in educating future
generations of retail bankers.
Wilfrid’s final thoughts were words of
encouragement for his colleagues around
the world to invest in their careers: “It’s a
good thing to do on a personal level because
of the added experience and people you
meet from various backgrounds, and on a
professional level it reinforces what is truly
important in banking – the customer and the
products. I would encourage anybody who
wants to further their career in banking to do
it”. Within his role as an RBA Ambassador,
Wilfrid is helping nurture the next generation
of Certified Retail Bankers as well as serving
as a role model for the impact that the RBA
can have on a retail banking career.
On a professional level it
reinforces what is truly important
in banking – the customer and
the products. I would encourage
anybody who wants to further
their career in banking to do it.
RETAIL BANKING
ACADEMY
®