Professional Banking Fundamentals graduate Samantha O’ Donoghue has told how the skills she picked up on the course helped her fit into a new specialised role.
The Bendigo Bank Customer Relationship Manager, who is based in Canberra, was called upon to be part of a rapid response team assisting customers who had been impacted by COVID-19.
PBF graduate Samantha says the in-depth knowledge she picked up from the program had an almost immediate benefit to the way she was able to support customers affected by the pandemic.
“I recently had PBF and all that I had learnt from the program very front of mind, during a recent position I was in with a specialised team established to quickly assist our COVID-19 impacted customers,” said Samantha G FIN..
“I was able to pull on the knowledge I had gained from various modules such as Risk Management along with the Legal and Regulatory Environment chapters.
“It enabled me to adapt successfully to a rapid change in my role and responsibilities.”
But she also expects the PBF to have a long-term benefit to her career, describing the course as a ‘no-brainer’ for ambitious, customer-focused bankers.
“In the ever-evolving world of work, it’s paramount to be current and up to date. It’s all about continuous improvement, professionally and personally,” explained Samantha.
“Customers seek out professionals they can be confident will deliver a quality standard of service and that they can trust.
“When your customer knows they are dealing with a qualified professional it gives them the peace of mind they are desperately looking for, especially during these unprecedented times.
“As a professional in the financial services industry it is our responsibility to ensure we have a strong foundation of understanding into the ‘why’ behind the way we do things.
“This course provides that solid platform of education on the key principals of banking required to successfully achieve this.
“If you are seeking to develop or up-skill this course is a no brainer.
“It will show you are an ambitious professional, committed to build on your existing skills. I have no hesitation the program and all that it offers will contribute to career progression.”
While the course is delivered online and can be accessed anywhere and anytime, Bendigo’s in-house webinars during the program helped - especially when it cameo the Risk and Ethics chapters.
“Not only is the online access a huge attraction, you also have the ability to complete the modules at your own pace and can assess your knowledge as you go in preparation for the main assessment,” said Samantha as she drilled down into the way the course operates.
“As my current role is as a Customer Relationship Manager my focus is around building relationships with my customers and providing them with tailored banking solutions to reach their financial goals.
“So I found responsible lending and credit components the most straight forward along with the product and services section.
“The Ethics chapter I found the most interesting but also the most difficult as it deep dives into frameworks and theories which are heavily detailed.
“However, in conclusion this provides you with a holistic understanding of the importance of ethical conduct in banking and the practicalities of applying those standards.”
Proud Samantha also recognises the importance of membership of a professional body as a career passport.
“Having gained my PBF qualification, I am confident that I provide a high standard of professionalism and a service they can trust,” she said.
“Not only do you receive a globally recognised professional qualification but if you continue with your membership provided by FINSIA you acquire GFIN post nominals.”
