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General Banking
Bank Service Provider Certificate
Course Description: The Bank Service Provider Certificate is designed for individuals employed by companies that provide
products and services to the banking industry. Bank service providers need a broad understanding of the banking business,
including banking terminology, and can benefit from the same content used by the institutions they will be selling to and
servicing. This curriculum provides participants with an understanding of the role that banks play, the products and services
they offer, and the kinds of customers they serve. After completing this curriculum, participants will have a better
understanding of the language of bankers, their core products, as well as the regulatory and ethical constraints under which
banks operate.
The five courses below must be successfully completed in order to earn the ABA Bank Service Provider Certificate.
Banking Today
Ethical Issues for Bankers
Fundamentals of Consumer Lending
Fundamentals of Small Business Banking
Understanding Bank Products
Understanding that today's teller has a much broader scope than just handling cash, the certificate curriculum is augmented
by courses that contribute to the overall professional development of the teller associates. These range from ethics,
workplace conduct and bank product knowledge to being able to provide value-added customer service through a
relationship sales approach.
Required Courses:
Banking Today*
Dealing Effectively with Co-Workers
Effective Client Referrals
Essentials of Workplace Conduct
Ethical Issues for Bankers
Introduction to Relationship Selling
Revitalizing Customer Service
Teller Basics
Banking Today
Course Description: Banking Today introduces new employees to the essential principles, concepts and operations of
banking. The course explores the impact of banking on the economy, as well as trends on how banks operate as a business.
The course provides a big picture perspective of the financial services industry and banking.
Audience: Bank personnel new to the banking industry at all levels, specialists in non-banking functions such as
marketing, information systems and human resources.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe how banks organize to achieve their goals
Describe the Federal Reserve's organization and function
Explain how banks operate as a business to make a profit
Summarize important federal laws and regulations affecting bank operations and practices
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Examine the categories of bank products and services
Describe bank challenges in the financial marketplace and trends likely to affect the future of banking.
Retail branch managers manage the activities of branch offices and offer deposit and loan products to businesses and
individuals. In addition to broad knowledge of banking and banking operations, the responsibilities of Branch Managers
require expertise in lending, branch operations, staff supervision and development, sales management and customer
service. This certificate addresses these core competencies, providing branch managers with the knowledge and skills they
will need to drive their team and bank performance.
Banking Today*
Building and Retaining Customer Relationships
Calling on Small Business Customers
Coaching for Success**
Corrective Action**
Effective Written Communication
Ethical Issues for Bankers**
Fundamentals of Consumer Lending
Fundamentals of Small Business Banking
Hiring the Best**
Introduction to Relationship Selling
Leveraging the Benefits of a Diverse Workforce**
Managing Change**
Managing for Employee Engagement**
Managing Employee Performance**
Rewards and Recognition**
Presentation Skills
Sales Coaching in the Bank
Servicing and Growing Small Business Relationships
Successful Sales Campaigns
The estimated time to complete these 20 courses is approximately 39 hours. Students have access to the curriculum for one
year from date of purchase. * ABA Principles of Banking may be substituted.
**These courses are part of the ABA Supervisor Certificate. Students enrolled in the Branch Manager Certificate who have
successfully completed the supervisor Certificate (self-paced or facilitated) will automatically receive credit for the identified
courses.
In addition to courses that address sales and customer service, the curriculum also emphasizes regulatory compliance,
business ethics and banking fundamentals. Basic selling and cross-selling skills are covered as well.
All 10 courses below must be successfully completed in order to earn the ABA Customer Service Representative Certificate.
Banking Today*
Building and Retaining Customer Relationships
Cross-Selling Deposit Products
Dealing Effectively with Co-Workers
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Effective Client Referrals
Effective Telephone Communication
Ethical Issues for Bankers
Introduction to Relationship Selling
Revitalizing Customer Service
Understanding Bank Products
The estimated time to complete these 10 courses is approximately 25 hours. Students have access to the curriculum for 1
year from date of purchase. *ABA Principles of Banking may be substituted.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the importance of ethical practices in banking
Identify the regulations that prohibit unethical practices in banking
Define the nature and elements of ethical dilemmas
Examine examples of ethical dilemmas and the principles that drive them
Use the four-step approach to resolve ethical dilemmas.
Personal Bankers often drive the sales and service function in the bank office or branch, and call on potential and current
customers to develop new business relationships and to support customer retention strategies. They require broad product
knowledge, including specific understanding of the different types of retail deposit and loan products, all of which are
covered in this curriculum.
Banking Today*
Building and Retaining Customer Relationships
Consumer Credit Products
Cross-Selling Deposit Products
Dealing Effectively with Co-Workers
Effective Client Referrals
Effective Written Communication
Ethical Issues for Bankers
Fundamentals of Consumer Lending
Fundamentals of Small Business Banking
Introduction to Relationship Selling
Introduction to Analyzing Financial Statements
Managing Time at Work
Teleconsulting
Understanding Bank Products
The estimated time to complete these 14 courses is approximately 43 hours. Students have access to the curriculum for 1
year from date of purchase. *ABA Principles of Banking may be substituted.
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situation and how to respond to bomb and kidnapping threats, and fire. Students are presented with some typical behaviors
of con artists and given guidelines to follow if they suspect a potential con artist or financial scam. It also reviews daily bank
security routines to ensure their own physical safety, as well as the safety of coworkers and customers. The course
concludes with a discussion about the personal responsibility of employees to practice ethical behavior.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Demonstrate appropriate behavior before, during, and after a robbery
Respond to bomb and kidnapping threats safely
Recognize potential con artist behavior
Demonstrate safe daily routines
Practice ethical behavior
Teller Basics
Course Description: ABA Teller Basics is designed to onboard newly hired tellers. The 8 self-paced courses are based on
the content in ABAs Todays Teller textbook and are designed to simplify new teller training, reduce teller training time and
costs, and provide your new tellers with a working knowledge of teller fundamentals. The highly interactive courses are
supplemented with industry best-practice procedures and off-line exercises that can personalize the experience to your
bank. As a stand-alone program or as a supplement to your banks on-the-line training, Teller Basics can significantly
accelerate the process of preparing your new tellers to begin serving customers. Use of the program also ensures
consistency in training across all bank locations.
Learning Objectives:
The Role of the Teller: Introduces the four common work principles adopted by successful tellers and the seven main
areas of responsibility for a teller.
Handling Checks: Demonstrates the check items of negotiability; the principles of endorsements; and the warning signs
for forged or altered checks.
Processing Transactions: Provides an overview of the most common deposit and withdrawal transactions for checking
and savings accounts as well as the regulations that govern processing procedures.
Cash Handling: Introduces the features of U.S. currency along with the key security features associates with common
currency denominations, cash compartments, and procedures for mutilated, unfit, altered, and counterfeit currency.
Cash Balancing: Documents the basics of cash balancing and procedures to open and close teller drawers.
Bank Services: Describes the negotiable instruments guaranteed by banks; guidelines for handling loan payments and
bankcard transaction processing; the features and benefits of ATM, debit and other cards; and more.
Robbery and Bank Security: Provides the tools needed to handle the most common security situations robbery, fire,
bomb and kidnapping threats as well as scams and con artists.
Providing Quality Customer Service: Provides an opportunity to sharpen communication abilities and enhance skills to
serve a variety of customers, including managing difficult customers.
This certificate is designed to help new Universal Bankers cater to a changing customer mindset by being the single point of
contact for walk-in customers and fulfilling sales, service and referral needs. This provides a seamless experience and adds
value to new and existing customer relationships.
Required Courses:
All courses must be successfully completed in order to earn the ABA Universal Banker Certificate.
Banking Today
Building and Retaining Customer Relationships
Consumer Credit Products
Cross-Selling Deposit Products
Dealing Effectively with Co-workers
Effective Client Referrals
Ethical Issues for Bankers
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Introduction to Relationship Selling
Presentation Skills
Revitalizing Customer Service
Understanding Bank Products
The estimated time to complete these 11 courses is approximately 23 hours. Students have access to the curriculum for 1
year from date of purchase.
Management Skills
Coaching for Success
Course Description: Coaching for Success provides managers, supervisors, team leaders and mentors with the knowledge
and skills necessary to assess, plan, and carry out a performance coaching dialogue with an employee or mentee. Students
will learn how to recognize a coaching opportunity and will develop skills and techniques for providing ongoing performance
feedback. A simulated coaching dialogue enables practice in applying these skills in a typical coaching situation.
Audience: Any employee responsible for coaching others with or without a reporting relationship. This could include
managers, supervisors, team leaders and mentors.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Differentiate coaching, by goals and methodology, from corrective feedback.
Recognize a coaching opportunity.
Describe resources and processes that your employer provides in support of coaching.
Prepare a plan for a coaching session.
Demonstrate listening skills appropriate to a coaching dialogue.
Perform a coaching dialogue.
Corrective Action
Course Description: In Corrective Action, students will learn how to facilitate their employees improvement, instead of
merely disciplining them. The course covers when and how to apply corrective action, and provides strategies for motivating
employees to improve. Students will learn to use a range of corrective modes in a balanced and objective manner, including
applying the progressive disciplinary model, documenting corrective action through a standard documentation template, and
counseling employees towards improvement in a professional manner.
Audience: Any supervisor or manager who has responsibility for evaluating and documenting employee performance.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Define corrective action and its significance.
Describe an employee's performance or behavior gap specifically and objectively.
Identify the steps of the progressive disciplinary model.
Apply the progressive disciplinary process to disciplinary situations.
Document corrective action completely by including the standard elements.
Prepare for a corrective counseling session with an employee.
Conduct a corrective counseling discussion with an employee.
Take appropriate corrective action based on an employee performance or behavior issue.
Audience: Any supervisor or manager who participates in the position analysis and selection and hiring of employees.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify the job tasks, skills, and proficiency levels that make up a job analysis
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Prepare effective interview questions to conduct a legal, thorough interview
Follow proper guidelines for conducting an interview and pre-employment tests
Evaluate and select the best candidate for a position in a legal manner
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Recognize the business case for diversity
Define the management practices that support diversity in the workplace
Explain the difference between diversity vs. stereotypes
Apply the five-step process for handling diversity conflict resolution
Managing Change
Course Description: In Managing Change, you will learn about the typical effects that change events can have on
individuals and organizations. It will teach you leadership strategies for approaching change. Through honing your
communication skills and applying them to a four-step change communication process, the course will prepare you to better
manage the impact of change. You'll learn to identify reactions to change and address them effectively. You'll learn how to
gain commitment from others to support change and to take action. Ultimately, Managing Change will give you the skills to
become a change leader in your organization.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Distinguish between change and transition.
Identify seven typical effects of change.
Describe the primary reactions employees have to change events.
Examine the three stages of change.
Identify possible reactions to each stage of change.
Identify the seven strategies to demonstrate change leadership.
Identify the influence and action you can take in change situations.
Describe the key elements of effective communication.
Identify the four steps to communicating change effectively.
Describe the impact of the four-step communication approach on a change event.
Audience: Any supervisor or manager who has responsibility for directing, documenting and evaluating employee
performance.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify the stages of the Performance Management Cycle
Describe the business objective for your bank
Write clear, concise performance objectives
Communicate expectations and monitor employee progress
Provide timely formal and informal employee feedback
Write fair and effective performance evaluations
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Managing Employee Relations
Course Description: Managing Employee Relations is designed to prepare bank managers for the challenges of managing
employees in the contemporary workplace. This course provides a four-step strategy for managing employee relations--
compliance with legislation, managing diversity, handling work and personal issues, and fostering open communications.
Managers review the legislation that protects employees from discriminatory and unfair practices, and learn what their legal
responsibilities and requirements are when situations arise. Managers learn how to identify diversity issues in a team, how to
respond to personal issues that affect the work environment, how to promote open communications, and how to establish
formal and informal problem resolution processes.
Audience: Any manager or team leader with one or more reporting relationships.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the impact of a manager's role in establishing and maintaining sound employee relations in an
organization
Identify four management strategies that support positive employee relations
Describe the purpose and intent of employment legislation governing workplace supervision
Identify diversity issues in a team and overcome related barriers to productive employee relations
Use effective guidelines for handling work and personal issues in a team
Implement management activities that facilitate open communications
Audience: Any employee responsible for motivating staff regardless of the specific reporting relationships. This could
include managers, supervisors, team leaders and mentors.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Define the terms reward and recognition
Identify the elements of rewarding and recognizing employees
Describe the consequences of failing to reward and recognize employees
Describe how to link a specific company value to specific employee behaviors
Determine a reward/recognition that is appropriate to the individual
Communicate the reward/recognition effectively
Describe the steps in creating a recognition plan
Create a recognition plan for employees
Supervisor Certificate
Course Description: The ABA Supervisor Certificate prepares new and potential supervisors for their emerging
responsibilities with a combination of leadership and managerial skills and by offering fresh insights on proven supervisory
approaches.
The courses in the program explore ways to interview, evaluate and select employees, while being mindful of legal
considerations. The performance management process is reviewed in detail, with special attention placed on coaching,
rewards and recognition, and corrective action. Managing employee relations is addressed through four major strategies:
compliance with laws, managing diversity, handling work and personal issues, and fostering open communication among
staff members. In addition, the certificate program includes a component on ethical practices in banking.
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Leveraging the Benefits of a Diverse Workforce
Managing Change
Managing Employee Performance
Managing Employee Relations
Rewards and Recognition
To build a successful team requires the knowledge and skills to build a climate of trust, leverage personal strengths of team
members, manage team weaknesses, and set meaningful goals and expectations. Successful team leaders focus on both
team purpose and individual tasks, promote shared responsibility for results, identify appropriate methods for rewards and
recognition, and communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders. They also coach team members and help
manage the change process.
Sales Skills
Building and Retaining Customer Relationships
Course Description: Part I Process and Strategy
Building and Retaining Customer RelationshipsProcess and Strategy provides tools on how to start, manage, and
execute a sales portfolio. This course explains how to conduct the process and learn the strategies behind the sales portfolio
process, from prioritizing clients to making sales calls. It presents sales portfolio techniques and strategies that have been
proven effective. Throughout the course, students will review how to recognize, classify, and prioritize clients according to
sales potential profiles.
Audience: This course is most appropriate for banking professionals who currently sell bank products to customers.
Participants attending this class should have a working knowledge of their institutions products and services, basic sales
techniques, daily planner scheduling and basic tele-consulting skills.
Learning Objectives:
After completing Part I: Process and Strategy, students will be able to:
Describe the benefits of building and retaining client relationships through a well-managed portfolio and the steps
associated with the portfolio process
Set criteria that support sales and client retention
Assess sales potential of clients
After completing Part II: Calling on Clients, students will be able to:
Organize a portfolio to support and track activity
Plan for starting a portfolio at work
Prepare for the initial contact with clients.
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Calling on Small Business Customers
Course Description: Calling on Small Business Customers provides guidelines on how to plan effective calls with small
business clients. It explores the steps in the Call Planning Model and focuses on gathering resources and identifying goals
for the call. This course also provides steps to strategize the actions to take during the call.
Audience: Bank personnel responsible for face-to-face small business customer calls.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify the importance of planning calls and setting call priorities
Use the Relationship Selling Model and the Call Planning Model as tools for building and maximizing client
relationships
Develop action strategies to help you successfully close a call and build a strong business relationship.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. This course builds on the students experience and skills in using
a needs-based selling cycle. A basic knowledge of business/consumer products and services would also be helpful.
Audience: Any bank personnel in a position to discuss deposit products and services with customers.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the program participants will be able to:
Explain the importance of cross-selling
Describe typical bank products and their features and benefits
Interpret clues and identify customer needs
Cross-sell deposit product solutions that match customer needs
Respond to questions and objections from customers
Close the sale or refer the customer.
Audience: In-bank and operations personnel who service client transactions and are in a position to identify referral
opportunities.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe what customers expect from their bank
Identify the four steps in the Effective Referral Model
Identify sales and service referral opportunities
Match referral opportunities with the appropriate financial need type
Make an effective referral using the appropriate referral technique
Follow up with a client.
Learning Objectives:
After completing Part 1: Event-Based Selling-Preparing for the Event, students will be able to:
Determine the target audience and the type of group event
Identify professional and personal group characteristics and their commonalities
Explain how financial needs are driven by a customers professional or personal life
After completing Part 2: Event-Based Selling-Executing the Event, students will be able to:
Practice relax to open techniques to help establish credibility with a client
Demonstrate effective networking techniques for moving between conversations
Apply the networking tips to ensure you are an effective networker
Explain how to use the Customer Connection form for notes and a follow up strategy
Audience: Bank personnel who are involved in sales activities in a retail-banking environment.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the six step relationship selling process and how it relates to meeting your clients expectations
Determine how to plan for the success of your sales interaction
Take action to set a relaxing, positive, and professional sales climate and establish credibility with your client
Determine how to uncover your clients needs by evaluating their situation
Ensure client satisfaction through the suggestion of appropriate products and solutions to meet their needs
Identify how to appropriately respond to client objections and concerns
Determine actions to close and follow up with a client.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe features and benefits of conventional fixed rate, adjustable rate, FHA, and VA programs.
Identify client profiles that generally benefit from each product type.
Use key questions to help clients determine beneficial mortgage financing options.
Effectively refer mortgage loan application clients to the appropriate person.
Identify mortgage lending regulations that apply during the client preparation and referral process.
Note: It is recommended that learners new to client referrals and cross-selling complete the Effective Client Referrals course
before taking this course.
Audience: Bank personnel who have the opportunity to refer customers to designated, licensed insurance sellers in a bank.
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Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe how insurance and annuities products and services address a clients financial needs
Describe the common types and features of insurance and annuity products offered through banks
Identify the customer characteristics that indicate a need for an insurance or annuity product
Use the Effective Referral Model to make effective referrals to bank-designated, licensed staff
This course revisits the effective referral model that was introduced in the Effective Client Referrals course. Using the
effective referral model will help clients see the value in referral suggestions and in meeting with an investment specialist. By
applying the knowledge and skills students will be prepared to connect their clients with the resources they need and play a
vital role on the banks financial services.
Audience: Bank personnel who manage client relationships and/or who are in a position to identify referral opportunities to
licensed specialists.
Note: The Effective Client Referrals course must be taken at least once before taking this course.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify key regulations and guidelines banks must follow when offering investment products
Identify benefits and risks associated with investment products
Describe the basic features of common investment products
Recognize clues and gather information to support and enhance a referral
Use the Effective Referral Model to make needs-based, professional referrals
Address common client concerns about following through on a referral
Audience: Bank personnel who manage client relationships and/or who are in a position to identify referral opportunities to
trust specialists.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the five basic elements of a trust
Identify the five key reasons clients need or want a trust
Refer clients to the trust department using the Effective Referral Model
Identify trust accounts that map to clients needs
Audience: Bank personnel who are new to the small business market and who are responsible for selling bank products and
services to small business customers. It is suggested that participants take Fundamentals of Small Business Banking before
enrolling in this course.
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Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify the six steps in the relationship selling process
Describe the key strategies for the small business market
Use rapport-building techniques to establish a professional relationship with the small business customer
Identify where a customer is in the business life cycle and the business operating cycle
Present solutions that match customer needs
Name the steps for handling objections
Close the sale and follow up with customers.
Learning Objectives:
After completing Part I, students will be able to:
Describe the value of basic customer service skills
Explain the role of communication providing customer service
Describe how effective listening enhances your customer service skills
After completing Part II, students will be able to:
Explain the impact of stress on customer service delivery
Explain how customer service skills can help with angry clients
Sales Coaching
Course Description: Part 1 - Sales Coaching to Support the Sales Process
Sales Coaching to Support the Sales Process provides an approach to develop a long-term sustainable sales strategy for
each individual on a sales team based on organizational and individual sales objectives. This course shows how to increase
the potential of each salesperson by capitalizing on strengths and minimizing weaknesses. This course explores sales
coaching techniques to enhance sales skills by focusing on the advantages of using joint calls and using role playing as a
coaching tool.
Audience: Any person responsible for leading a bank sales team or sales campaign.
Learning Objectives:
After completing Part 1: Sales Coaching to Support the Sales Process, students will be able to:
Identify the organizational sales structure of a sales team and each level's corresponding sales strategy
Describe the sales coaching process and the techniques used to achieve sales goals
After completing Part 2: Sales Coaching to Sustain Sales Success and Motivation, students will be able to:
Match sales and coaching strategies based on job function
Implement reward and recognition programs to motivate staff
Coach individuals and team members to support the achievement of organizational goals
Audience: Bank personnel responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of small business customers.
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Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Explain the benefits of following up after a sale
Act on opportunities to service and grow small business client relationships
Monitor client relationships by analyzing financials, client records, and resources
Explain the benefits of conducting site visits
Probe to uncover facts on the people and business components during a site visit.
Audience: Any banking professionals who currently take part in sales campaigns.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Execute the sales campaign process in your bank
Effectively direct staff through the campaign
Track results of the campaign.
Part II Making the Call: Teleconsulting: Making the Call provides a strategy for professional bankers to make calls to clients
in the most professional manner possible. It focuses on the unique challenges of telephone sales and the three-step
approach to overcome clients' objections when presenting product features and benefits. This course explores appropriate
ways to close the sale using the assumptive close, and six tips for using a system to follow up with clients.
Audience: For Part I and II: Banking professionals who are familiar with the basic sales cycle and who need to plan
outbound telephone service and sales contacts with an assigned customer portfolio.
Learning Objectives:
After completing Part I: Planning the Call, students will be able to:
Describe the common challenges of teleconsulting
Identify service and sales potential for existing customers
Plan an interview that stays focused on the purpose of the call
Prepare a call invitation to ensure customer participation
Plan interview questions to verify customer needs
After completing Part II: Making the Call, students will be able to:
Establish a rapport and gain customer interest
Make an effective teleconsulting product presentation
Use scripts to handle common teleconsulting objections
Use an organized follow up system
Product Knowledge
Consumer Credit Products
Course Description: Consumer Credit Products provides definitions of consumer credit terms to assist in discussions with
clients. This course explains the growth and demand of non-real estate related products such as credit cards, personal
loans, personal lines of credit, and auto loans. It also explores real estate-related terms for home equity loans, home equity
lines of credit, and loan to value ratios, and how to calculate the maximum loan amounts.
Audience: Branch personnel who are responsible for discussing or selling consumer credit products.
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Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Define basic consumer credit terminology to clients
Identify features of consumer credit products
Explain the two loan categories non-real estate-related and real estate-related along with the products associated
with the categories
Determine the maximum loan amount available based on collateral value for real estate-related products
Audience: Bank personnel responsible for selling credit products to the small business customer and/or responsible for
identifying sales opportunities and referring small business lending prospects to the appropriate bank contacts.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Distinguish between product features and product benefits
Describe the features and benefits of:
Lines of credit
Term loan
Business credit card
Letters of credit
SBA-guaranteed loans
Match small business credit products to client needs
Audience: Bank personnel who are new to the small business market and are responsible for providing services to small
business customers.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe consumer credit basics including examples of consumer credit, the consumer credit operations of a bank, and
the credit application process
Define basic categories of consumer credit and terminology
Explain how banks make money from loans including which rate types banks use, which factors determine loan pricing,
and which loan cost categories affect loan profitability
Describe the credit evaluation and decision-making systems, namely the Five Cs of Credit and credit scoring
Summarize the impact of bank regulations upon the credit application process
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Fundamentals of Small Business Banking
Course Description: This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to interact successfully with small
business customers. It defines and explores core business terminology such as business legal structures, business types
(industry sectors), operating cycles, and business life cycles will be defined and explored. The course also examines
business cycles and how they drive the need for bank products and services.
Audience: Bank personnel who have had limited exposure to the small business market but are responsible for servicing
or selling to small business customers.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify common characteristics of small business markets
Describe different business legal structures
Identify common characteristics of small business markets
Match business products and services to business cycles
Compare the operating cycles of various business types
Identify the life stages of businesses.
Audience: Bank personnel responsible for reviewing financial statements for the purpose of assisting in making lending
decisions, monitoring the ongoing health of the business, or conducting the initial financial analysis.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Define financial statement analysis and explain its importance in the small business lending process
List the basic steps of financial statement analysis and the purpose of each step
Analyze an income statement and balance sheet
Calculate and interpret key ratios
Perform a simple cash flow analysis
Introduction to IRAs
Course Description: Introduction to IRAs trains bank personnel on key concepts about IRA product features and benefits,
contribution, and distribution requirements. The course discusses traditional, rollover, and Roth IRAs, including the new
conversion rules, as well as Simplified Employee Pension Plans and SIMPLE Retirement Accounts. It also presents
information about IRA tax benefits and penalty calculations. The 2013 updated version provides an overview of IRA
withdrawal requirements and includes a series of unique reference tools that participants can print and use on the job. Also
included is a PowerPoint with course highlights and a comparison of key product features. The slides can be used
independently in subsequent training discussions as needed. Students will gain a greater understanding of how IRAs work,
which will enhance their ability to increase IRA sales and improve customer service.
Audience: All bank personnel who require a basic understanding of IRAs including experienced tellers and new accounts
representatives, personal bankers, platform assistants, branch managers, trust administrators, and private bankers
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the types of Individual Retirement Accounts, including contributions rules
Tradtional IRAs
Roth IRAs
Rollover IRAs
Simplified employee pension plans
SIMPLE retirement accounts and 401(k) plans
Explain the IRA withdrawal requirements
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Audience: Bank personnel who are in a position to use personal tax returns from clients for lending analysis.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe what constitutes a complete tax return and how to identify signs of fraud
Identify income trends and non-recurring situations used in analysis
Describe the areas on tax returns that can be used to identify cross-sell opportunities
Analyze wage and tip income including the non-cash and pre-tax benefits associated with the source of income
Analyze taxable and non-taxable interest and dividend income
Describe and calculate the source of income information on Schedule C
Explain and calculate capital gains and losses
Differentiate the areas on Schedule E and calculate rental income
Calculate limited partnership income
Audience: Bank personnel responsible for managing small business relationships with responsibilities for referring and/or
selling retirement services and products.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Define the benefits associated with retirement planning for the small business owner
Identify various retirement products appropriate for small business owners
Compare characteristics of various retirement products
Match characteristics of retirement products to small business owners needs
Refer small business clients to retirement specialists using the H.E.L.P tool
Audience: Bank personnel responsible for selling credit products to the small business customer and/or responsible for
identifying sales opportunities and referring small business lending prospects to the appropriate bank contacts.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe small business market characteristics
Identify borrowing causes, loan purposes, and repayment sources
Effectively communicate approvals, counter-offers, and declines.
Audience: The course is designed for branch client-contact personnel with at least six months experience. Those would
benefit most include tellers, new accounts representatives, personal bankers, platform assistants and branch manager
trainees.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe financial products in terms of features and benefits to the client
Identify prospective clients for different categories of bank products and the clues that signal client needs
Describe business banking products features and benefits
Describe financial products and services in a way that demonstrates a client focus.
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Workplace Skills
Dealing Effectively with Co-Workers
Course Description: Dealing Effectively with Co-Workers focuses primarily on behavior among co-workers. This course
introduces information about social behavioral styles and how the different styles affect communication among co-workers.
Students will identify their own base preference group and learn what creates the challenges with his/her behavioral
opposite. Students will also learn strategies and guidelines for dealing with difficult co-workers and the resulting conflict.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Identify elements that contribute to individual perspective
Describe how perspective drives actions and behaviors
Describe how behavior choices impact the work environment
Describe the characteristics and behaviors of the four base preference groups
Explain the differences found in the same base preference group
Describe how to look at things from a different perspective
Describe the benefits and challenges of working with behavioral opposites
Use the five steps to enhance the working relationship with a difficult co-worker
Describe the benefits of focusing on what someone else finds important
Audience: Branch and administrative office staff who answer calls or make calls to customers and other bank staff. This is
appropriate for call center staff as an introduction to telephone skills.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Prepare for typical calls
Set up your work area to support organized telephone communications
Use professional call greetings
Use appropriate language and voice inflection during telephone conversations
Use questioning and listening skills that support effective telephone communication
Handle special telephone tasks professionally
Use effective skills when working with technology tools.
Audience: Anyone who writes business correspondence such as letters to customers, memos, faxes, or e-mail messages.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Plan for a written document
Draft a document that achieves a planned objective
Revise a document to maximize clarity and conciseness
Choose a format that is appropriate to the content and to the audience
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Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Define the four guiding principles of business etiquette
Introduce yourself or others appropriately to reflect professional hierarchy
Describe professional dress code and the effect of not following the code
Explain how workplace behavior can affect others
Explain how the rules of business etiquette apply to work situations out of the office
Improving Productivity
Course Description: Improving Productivity introduces you to the main elements of productivity, and provides you with
guidelines on how to evaluate and improve productivity in your workplace. In this course you will learn how to consistently
and systematically apply a six-step process to resolving productivity problems in your work environment. You begin the
process by carefully investigating what events, processes, or procedures led to the problem. Once you have identified the
source of the problem you will begin to look for opportunities to improve the end result. Youll also learn that one such
opportunity is understanding the value of your work group in this process. The steps you will learn about in Improving
Productivity will keep you focused on what needs to be done to resolve problems and enhance current productivity levels.
Audience: Any employee that leads a work team on a full or part-time basis.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the managers role in productivity challenges for banks.
Identify the three elements of productivity.
Pinpoint the production problems in everyday scenarios.
Identify obstacles that are keeping their work group from reaching optimal performance levels.
Determine the best method to identify potential productivity obstacles through the use of interviewing, fishbone diagrams
and flow charts.
Use rating, ranking and matrix screening methods for evaluating productivity solutions.
Describe the steps for implementing productivity solutions.
Audience: Bank personnel who are not currently using an organized method to plan and manage their time or who want a
refresher. This includes any bank employees who are responsible for completing varied tasks in a typical day.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Plan your time effectively
Create a task management plan
Organize the workspace
Manage interruptions and daily activities
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the benefits, risks, and costs of business meetings
List valid purposes for holding meetings
Evaluate a group meeting against other methods of achieving a stated purpose
Determine the appropriate type and number of participants to include in a meeting
Complete detailed steps to prepare an effective agenda
Evaluate alternative meeting room set-ups
Use key principles and specific techniques to effectively lead and participate in meetings
Use meeting technology effectively for virtual meetings.
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Presentation Skills
Course Description: Presentation Skills provides ways to determine the presentation benefits for the audience, including
remote audiences. It explains the best practices for controlling nervousness by recognizing the symptoms of nervousness
and treating them. This course also explains how to create effective presentation openings and professional attentions
getters. This course focuses on techniques to maintain the attention of the audience visually and verbally. It explores the four
steps in asking questions, and it describes techniques in dealing with disconnected or negative audiences. This course
provides effective closing techniques to connect to the purpose statement.
Audience: Any bank employee who makes stand-up, verbal presentations to schools, community groups, business
prospects, staff, senior management, and so on.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to:
Write a purpose statement for their presentation topics.
Write an opening statement that catches the audiences attention.
Identify components of a presentation that gain attention and keep interest.
Describe effective uses of visual aids (flipcharts and overheads).
Define and demonstrate the benefits of using open-ended and closed-ended questions.
Develop a closing statement that calls the audience to action.
List methods for dealing with disruptive audience members.
Identify ways to control nervousness.
Demonstrate appropriate body language.
Deliver a presentation that meets the needs of the audience.
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