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We’ve been serving the finance sector for over 40 years.

We started out in 1977 as the Jamaica Institute of Bankers (JIOB), the training arm of the Bank of Jamaica. The BOJ’s goal was to provide professional development avenues for those working in the banking sector. The Jamaica Bankers Association took control of the JIOB in 1999, eventually changing our name to the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services in 2010 to reflect our widened focus on strengthening the entire financial sector.

1977
Feb 24
Launch

Official launch of the Jamaica Institute of Bankers (JIOB) by the Hon. G.  Arthur Brown, Governor Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)

Cooperation Agreement signed with Institute of Bankers (IOB) London and College of Arts Science & Technology (CAST) regarding Associate of Institute of Bankers (AIB) Diploma Programme

1986
Jamaicanization

Jamaicanization of Stage 1 of the AIB course to take into consideration the Jamaican banking environment

1989
BBA Established

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme established at CAST in collaboration with JIOB

1992
First Graduates

First Graduates of BBA Programme done in collaboration with CAST (now UTECH) - the first graduating class included Patrick Hylton, now the Group Managing Director of NCB

1993
Sept 22
Launch of Universities of Manchester & Wales MBA

Official Launch of Universities of Manchester & Wales MBA Programme

1997
First Presentation of Graduates

First Presentation of Graduates of the MBA Programme held

Became a founding member of Caribbean Association of Banking and Financial Institutes (CABFI)

1999
Full Responsibility

The Jamaica Bankers Association assumed full responsibility for the operations of JIOB

2001
World Conference of Banking Institutes

Hosted the World Conference of Banking Institutes in Jamaica

2006
Nov
Approved

Designated as the approved Caribbean Centre for the administration of MBS Worldwide MBA programmes in the region

2007
Diploma and Certificate Programmes

Commenced offering Diploma and Certificate Programmes in Compliance, in partnership with the International Compliance Association (ICA) and MBS

2009
Discontinued

MBS & JIOB decide to discontinue the MBA programme in Jamaica

2010
Feb
Cooperation agreement with Mona School of Business

Cooperation agreement with Mona School of Business, (Now Mona School of Business & Management) to collaborate on training programmes for the financial sector

2010
Mar
Certified International Financial Planner programme

Commenced offering the Certified International Financial Planner programme in collaboration with Keith Checkley & Associates and Chartered Banker Institute (Scotland).

2010
Apr
Commenced offering the CCP programme online

Commenced offering the Certified Credit Professional (CCP) programme online, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland (CIOBS)

2010
May
Name changed to JIFS

Name changed to the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS)

2011
Feb
Commenced offering the CIRM programme

Commenced offering the Certified International Risk Manager (CIRM) programme through the CIOBS

2012
Apr
Relationship with Bangor University

Established a relationship with Bangor University to offer the Chartered Banker MBA (CBMBA) within the Caribbean

2012
Oct
Launch of JIFS Finance Club
2012
Oct
JIFS Finance Club at Red Bones
Launch of JIFS Finance Club at Red Bones – A social exchange for managers and executives within the financial services sector
2012
Oct
Inaugural survey on Compensation & Director’s Fee
2013
UWI Banking League Mentorship Relationship

Established mentorship relationship with UWI Banking League,
a student led organization at the Faculty of Social Sciences,
University of the West Indies Mona

2014
Jun
Cohort of CBMBA students

First graduates of the cohort of CBMBA students

2017
Feb
JIFS’ 40th Anniversary Celebration
2018
Jun
Signed partnership agreement with Wiley to offer CFA Exam Learning Solutions
2019
May
Association Cambiste Internationale Agreement

Agreement signed with Association Cambiste Internationale
(ACI) Financial Markets to offer the Foreign Exchange (FX)
Global Code Certificate Programme in Jamaica

2019
Jul
FX code of conduct symbolic signing

Symbolic signing ceremony of FX code of conduct at the Bank of Jamaica

2020
Feb
Inauguration of “Women in Finance” Forum
2020
Jul
Partnership agreement signed with Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU)
2022
Oct
First Bangor University FCC MBA Cohort
First intake of Financial Crimes & Compliance MBA, Bangor University

We’ve been serving the finance sector for over 40 years.

We started out in 1977 as the Jamaica Institute of Bankers (JIOB), the training arm of the Bank of Jamaica. The BOJ’s goal was to provide professional development avenues for those working in the banking sector. The Jamaica Bankers Association took control of the JIOB in 1999, eventually changing our name to the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services in 2010 to reflect our widened focus on strengthening the entire financial sector.

1977

Feb 24th
Official launch of the Jamaica Institute of Bankers (JIOB) by the Hon. G.  Arthur Brown, Governor Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)

1977

Cooperation Agreement signed with Institute of Bankers (IOB) London and College of Arts Science & Technology (CAST) regarding Associate of Institute of Bankers (AIB) Diploma Programme

1986

 Jamaicanization of Stage 1 of the AIB course to take into consideration the Jamaican banking environment

1989

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme established at CAST in collaboration with JIOB

1992

First Graduates of BBA Programme done in collaboration with CAST (now UTECH) – the first graduating class included Patrick Hylton, now the Group Managing Director of NCB

1993

Sep 22nd
Official Launch of Universities of Manchester & Wales MBA Programme

1997

First Presentation of Graduates of the MBA Programme held

1997

Became a founding member of Caribbean Association of Banking and Financial Institutes (CABFI)

1999

The Jamaica Bankers Association assumed full responsibility for the operations of JIOB

2001

Hosted the World Conference of Banking Institutes in Jamaica

2006

Nov
Designated as the approved Caribbean Centre for the administration of MBS Worldwide MBA programmes in the region

2007

Commenced offering Diploma and Certificate Programmes in Compliance, in partnership with the International Compliance Association (ICA) and MBS

2009

MBS & JIOB decide to discontinue the MBA programme in Jamaica

2010

Apr
Commenced offering the Certified Credit Professional (CCP) programme online, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland (CIOBS)

2010

May
Name changed to the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS)

2011

Feb
Commenced offering the Certified International Risk Manager (CIRM) programme through the CIOBS

2012

Apr
Established a relationship with Bangor University to offer the Chartered Banker MBA (CBMBA) within the Caribbean

2014

Jun
First graduates of the cohort of CBMBA students