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New Designations – CB Affiliate and ECF Affiliate

The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) is pleased to introduce two new designations under the Certified Banker (CB) and Enhanced Competency Framework (ECF) pathways: “CB Affiliate” and “ECF Affiliate”, effective 31 March 2025.

About the CB and ECF Designations

These new “Affiliate” designations are designed to recognise individuals who have successfully completed an HKIB professional qualification programme including both training and examination but are not yet eligible for full certification due to either a lack of Relevant Practitioners (RP) status or insufficient relevant work experience.

Holders of the "CB Affiliate” or "ECF Affiliate" designations can proudly showcase their achievement to industry peers, current or prospective employers, and other stakeholders, demonstrating that they have completed the required training in a specific subject area and reached a key milestone on their professional certification journey. 

These designations are particularly beneficial for:

(1) Individuals who are not currently classified as Relevant Practitioners (as defined by the HKMA), including but not limited to:

  • Full-time post-secondary students
  • Banking practitioners in other non-RP roles
  • Practitioners in non-banking sectors
  • Former Relevant Practitioners who have changed roles, are no longer employed in banking, or are retired

(2) Current Relevant Practitioners who have not yet accumulated sufficient relevant working experience to meet certification requirements.

Automatic Entitlement of Designation

Learners who complete any of the HKIB CB or ECF programmes will automatically be granted the “CB Affiliate” or “ECF Affiliate” designation, respectively. Their names will then be listed in the HKIB Registers of Certified Individuals on our website, alongside those of CB or ECF Professional Qualification (PQ) holders.

Once the learners fulfil the remaining requirements such as obtaining Relevant Practitioner status or accumulating sufficient years of relevant work experience, they can immediately apply to become a CB or ECF Professional Qualification (PQ) holder.
 

Membership Status

Upon obtaining the “CB Affiliate” or “ECF Affiliate” designation:

  • Non-members: automatically become HKIB “Ordinary Members” with the first-year membership fee waived (until 31 December of the awarding year)

  • Default Professional Members: must apply for reinstatement and pay a re-instatement fee of HKD2,000 before  the "Affiliate" designation can be granted

  • Current Ordinary Members or Professional Members: continue to maintain their status without any changes (Note: The CB/ECF Affiliate designation holders may also hold the Professional Qualification in a specific area)
     

Annual Renewal/ Recertification

  • For Ordinary Members: must renew by accumulating at least 3 HKIB CPD hours in the previous calendar year and paying the annual membership fee (Note: The membership fee is waived for current Student Members until 31 December of their graduation year)

  • For Professional Members: must recertify by declaring their CPD hours and Relevant Practitioner (RP) status (where applicable), and by paying the annual recertification fee
     

For enquiries, please contact the HKIB Secretariat at (852) 2153 7800 or email us at cs@hkib.org.