Belgian Bankers Academy (BBA) is a non-profit association incorporated under Belgian law. BBA strongly contributes to the development of the banking, financial and insurance sector, including the micro finance sector, in Belgium and internationally.

BBA was established in 1997 by the Belgian Banker’s Association (now Febelfin) to serve its international and non-member clients. Since 2006, BBA entered into a strategic partnership with the Participation Fund, the leading Belgian federal financial institution specialized in SME financing - the reference in terms of SME credit policy - and the national microcredit market leader.

BBA is based on a solid structure and mobilizes the expertise of more than 300 Belgian and international experts, operating as independents or as senior managers of Belgian banks, who contribute each within their domain of competence to the projects that BBA implements. Because of the diversity and high quality of expertise on which BBA can rely, it can submit technical proposals with a high added value that largely meet the specific needs of each beneficiary. On top of this, BBA benefits of the profound experience of the Participation Fund when BBA collaborates in projects aiming to create (financial) tools to promote the establishment and development of Micro-, Small- and Middle-sized Enterprises (financing the missing middle) as well as its management.

SERVICES

Audit & Consultnacy

Belgian Bankers Academy became involved in international consulting projects starting in 1997 and offers a variety of consulting services covering the full range of bank technical and financial industry operations and functions.

It contributes strongly to the development of the financial services industry through the support to five major categories of clients:

-Central Banks and Ministries of Finance

-Supervisory authorities

-Commercial Banks

-Banking Institutes and Associations

-Microfinance Institutions

This contribution mainly consists of individualized services and advice on financial and banking activities and products, as well as didactic and technical assistance in the development of training programs.

BBA takes part in:

• Institutional Projects: these are set up in response to invitations to tender for specific development projects for which funds are made available by donor organizations such as EC, World Bank, EIB. After a careful screening and selection process, the organization that has been selected carries out the project under the supervision of the donor organization.
• Bilateral Projects: BBA also works directly for a number of international clients based in more than 65 countries.

Training

The Academy offers methodologies structured to react pro-actively to new developments in the financial services industry, the changing environment and the development of new products. BBA offers a variety of trainings covering the full range of bank technical and financial industry operations and functions.

These activities are organized through four different channels:

-Classroom Seminars

-Workshops

-Simulations

-Academic programmes

Bank Simulations

The program consists of a combination of two parts: a conceptual and a practical part. The conceptual part includes discussions, case studies and exercises on several theoretical and practical aspects of financial and general management in a universal bank. During these conceptual sessions our trainers share their real banking experience with participants. The practical part includes the use of the BankSim banking simulation program. The computer-based bank management simulation program depicts a typical full-service universal bank. A number of banks compete against each other, creating a realistic banking environment.