BRPD Circular No. 02: Regarding Banking Professional Exam

Bank of Bangladesh Chief Executive Motijheel, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh. Ref No: BRPD-Circular-No. Banking Regulation and Policy Department January 16, 2025 BRPD Circular No.-02 Date: ------------------- 02 Magh 1431 Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh Dear Sir, Regarding Banking Professional Exam

The banking sector plays an immeasurable role in the overall development of the country. To enhance the decision-making capacity of bank staff and promote professional excellence through basic and practical/applied knowledge, the Institute of Bankers, Bangladesh (IBB) has been conducting the Banking Professional Exam (formerly Banking Diploma Examination) for the past two years. Recently, the curriculum of the Banking Professional Exam has been updated to include a wider range of theoretical and practical knowledge aligned with modern banking practices, making it contemporary. In this context, the 1st Level or Level 1 (L1) exam tests primary and basic knowledge related to banking, while the 2nd Level or Level 2 (L2) exam assesses advanced banking knowledge and skills.

2. It is acknowledged that there is a need to register skilled human resources with basic banking knowledge to ensure greater discipline and good governance in the banking sector, and to enhance the decision-making capacity of staff. In this regard, the following instructions regarding the Banking Professional Exam for staff promotion shall be followed:

(a) In the case of promotion of staff from Senior Officer or equivalent positions to higher positions, banks must allocate 10% of the total points allocated by the bank for passing the Banking Professional Exam (5% for passing L1 and 5% for passing L2);

(b) Staff who were appointed or promoted to positions immediately prior to the issuance of BRPD Circular No.-03 dated February 08, 2023, will automatically receive the full points allocated for the aforementioned exams for their next promotion, even if they have not passed the Banking Professional Exam;

(c) From January 01, 2026, passing the Banking Professional Exam is mandatory for any staff member of a bank or finance company to be appointed to a relatively higher position in another bank;

(d) Staff who have crossed 15 years since joining or being promoted to Senior Officer or equivalent positions will automatically receive the full points allocated for the aforementioned exams for inclusion in the eligibility list for promotion to higher positions, even if they have not passed the Banking Professional Exam, considering their banking experience;

(e) From February 01, 2025, passing L1 is mandatory for the first subsequent promotion, and passing L2 is mandatory for the second subsequent promotion for staff who joined or were promoted to Senior Officer or equivalent positions on or after that date. The date of appointment or promotion of such staff must be mentioned in the percentage. The instructions of paragraph 2(d) of this circular shall not apply to staff who joined or were promoted to the specified positions on or after February 01, 2025; and

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-02- (f) The instructions of paragraphs 2(a-e) of this circular shall not apply to staff working in departments not involved in core banking activities. However, if any staff currently working in such departments is permanently transferred to core banking activities, the instructions of paragraphs 2(a-d) of this circular shall apply. Additionally, for such staff appointed on or after February 01, 2025, passing the Banking Professional Exam is mandatory before permanent transfer to core banking activities.

3. Banks must mandatorily provide financial incentives for passing the Banking Professional Exam [minimum 35,000/- (Thirty-five Thousand Taka) for passing L1 and minimum 50,000/- (Fifty Thousand Taka) for passing L2], which shall be effective from the 99th Banking Professional Exam.

4. All previous instructions issued by this Executive regarding this matter, including BRPD Circular No.-03 dated February 08, 2023, and BRPD Circular Letter No.-24 dated July 23, 2023, are hereby revoked. However, all actions taken by banks previously under the aforementioned instructions shall be considered valid.

5. These instructions are issued under the powers conferred by Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991, and shall come into force immediately.

Yours faithfully, (Mohammad Shahriar Siddique) Director (BRPD) Phone: 9530252