Alumni
We're here to support you after you graduate – and throughout your career – with membership and ongoing education.
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When you graduate with a degree from us, you join an alumni community of likeminded individuals, keen to share, learn and advance in industry. This network will be a valuable source of contacts, information and advice throughout your career.
Meanwhile we’re committed to continue providing you with support – a space where you can receive and give guidance and where you can always learn and grow.
Supporting your career
Banking and finance is an exciting sector because it's always changing and evolving. That means, as a professional in financial services, you'll always need to adapt and update your skills and knowledge.
When you graduate you’ll become an Associate Member of LIBF, which comes with benefits and services to help you progress. As one of our alumni, you’ll also be eligible to apply for Chartered Associateship – a professional designation of distinction.
To acquire Chartered Associateship as one of our alumni, you’ll need to:
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have at least three years’ experience in the sector
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have committed to our ethics and values, and
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maintain your knowledge and skills through continuing professional development (CPD).
Personalised careers support
After you graduate, you’ll also have access to our Careers and Employability Centre for three years.
As well as one-to-one career coaching, job opportunities and access to our network, we offer our graduates career management guidance.
This can be about anything – from critical career decisions, mental preparation for a big presentation or managing situations and challenges at work. Or it may be that you just need to talk.
Our team are available to talk you through the issues you may encounter as you begin your career. We’re all qualified and experienced coaches and can advise on tools and strategies that you might find useful.
Supporting current students
Become a mentor
As one of our alumni you can also support the next generation of bankers by becoming a mentor to one of our undergraduates.
Mentoring is a great way to share your professional expertise and experience and to help a student navigate their career choices. Mentoring is also a very enriching experience so you are likely to benefit too.
If you’re interested in becoming a mentor please email alumni@libf.ac.uk.
Case Study - Ges Ray, a member since 1975
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It was a sunny morning in September 1975. A seminal moment; my banking career had begun at NatWest Tolworth branch in Surrey where I was soon ‘encouraged’ – read instructed – to start studying for the banking exams.
Daily duties as branch junior bore little relation to banking, consisting in the main of:
1) Making tea & coffee for all members of staff – excluding the Manager; his secretary maintained a separate supply of quality ingredients and china cups - three times per day.
2) Sorting away all the paid cheques in that morning’s clearing for all the customers who had their cheques retuned with their statements – yes, really!
3) Walking to the sub branch down the Broadway several times per day to collect the ‘work’. That also usually meant being handed a shopping list by the girls in the machine room who regarded this naïve, fresh out of school lad as their personal errand runner, but that’s another story.
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Study was at Kingston College of Further Education, a (half) day release every Wednesday, with three classes in the afternoon plus one in the evening. This initially broke up the week quite nicely, enabling me to escape from the duties of ‘junior’ – they could make their own tea – and also form a bond with my peer group of fellow young escapee bankers as we worked towards out exams.
As time progressed and promotions arrived, the half day absence began to be a challenge, with Thursday mornings being a combination of frantic catch-up coupled with glowering glances from those who had to cover in my absence. Situation solved by achieving my personal mantra at the time of ‘ACIB by 23, Grade 4 by 24.’
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Banking Law was the final class of the day - how any of us ever garnered enough knowledge to pass the exam I will never know. After three brain draining classes in the afternoon, including getting to grips with double entry bookkeeping, we would repair to the café, then to the nearby pub for several games of bar billiards accompanied by a large quantity of Young’s Special before returning to the college. You can guess the rest… Our tutor was a serving member of staff who gave his time voluntarily to teach us. I hang my head in shame at the memories.
Interestingly, a parallel education was also taking place with far reaching consequences. Having been similarly ‘encouraged’ to join the British Junior Chamber of Commerce, I was soon engulfed in training for – and competing in – national level public speaking competitions.
As a direct result, public speaking, presenting, compering and radio broadcasting became an integral part of both professional and personal life for the next four decades, a solid apprenticeship for life today as founder of Speaking in Public, a business that builds your confidence in public speaking, also keynote speaker, MC and author of Speak Performance and Speaking in Public.
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Importance of the qualification grew as the years progressed. Taking (and passing) exams added a fillip whilst rising through the ranks. Receiving the impressive looking ACIB certificate was a proud moment. In later years, as a Manager dealing with HNW clients, being a member of a professional body with ACIB qualifications on my business card added credence to the role. Now, whilst no longer directly in Financial Services, retaining my LIBF membership is both a link to clients in FS, and an ongoing learning platform. And, yes, I still read Financial World.
The story of Louise Kiernan
Louise Kiernan was awarded a scholarship in 2015 in her first year of studying a BSc (Hons) in Finance and Accounting for Financial Services at our London campus. She tells us how your donations have helped with her education and her career.
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I’d worked extremely hard on my A-levels so to be recognised for my results was great. The money was a huge reward that I wasn’t expecting and made a big difference with regards to travelling costs.
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It was great for me as it isn’t the same as a traditional university. I was able to have one-on-one time with tutors which made me feel supported.
It was great to be in smaller classes as we got to bond well and build a relationships with the tutors. I liked that the course was more challenging than any other academic course I have done. The quantitative methods and economics modules pushed me the most.
The Institute provided so many opportunities to develop skills and networking opportunities which aren’t available in many other universities. The tools I gained have definitely helped me in my career.
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I have almost completed my first finance graduate placement with Lloyds Bank. I will be moving into my second placement in June.
Also, I am working towards completing the ACA qualification with the ICAEW and have already completed the first certificate level.
The scholarship looked great on my CV and was a very good talking point at interviews. It was a way of standing out from the crowd. It motivated me more to work hard and complete my degree to the best of my abilities.
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Yes. It is a challenging career which means there are many opportunities for development and growth. I learn something new everyday. I enjoy being stretched and problem-solving, which is exactly what a career in finance gives me.
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The scholarship is a great way of rewarding and recognising students for their hard work and achievements.
Also, it acts as a great motivator throughout university and can open doors to a range of opportunities. I definitely think it made my CV stand out and it is greatly appreciated
Case Study - Michael Chow, a member since 1975
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I started my banking career in 1979 with Chase Manhattan Bank (CMB) in Singapore, as assistant supervisor of its Financial Control department.
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I completed my CIB exam while I was with CMB, going on to be promoted to Supervisor with Financial Responsibilities over its three Singapore branches. It was a struggle to study – because most of the time I’d leave the office at around 10pm. Needless to say, the hard work was still really rewarding.
At the weekends I skipped social gatherings to study on my CIB subjects. It was worth it, because at this point in time (as an ACIB) these qualifications led to many job offers. It gave me choice. It was – and still is – a great qualification to have.
Fast-forward a little, to when I was working in an investment bank called Brandts (a joint venture between Citibank and Lloyds) as Operations Manager (and later Credit Manager) I was selected to attend a seven-week programme. The programme was Citibanks Advanced Credit Programme (AAMTU) in Manila.
My last banking position was Vice President/Head of Trade Banking at Bankers Trust (NY), I covered Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It was here that I was selected to attend a Leadership course in Manila and top the cohort.
At present, in addition to being President of the London Institute of Banking & Finance Alumni Singapore, and Board Council Member of UK Association of International Accountants, I sit on various board and advisory panels, such as:
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RHT Forensics & Disputes Advisory Pte Ltd - part of the renowned regional RHTLaw Taylor Wessing.
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Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institutions - famous 67 years old charitable hospital in Singapore.
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Sovereign Richwell (FE) Advisory E.U - established management advisory firm in the region.
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Questions about our membership?
If you have any questions about LIBF membership, please contact our customer services team.
Our customer services office is open: Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm UK time.
