Strengthening the capacity of financial institutions on SME financing and financial institution management

Between 2012 and June 2021, the Belgian Bankers Academy, commissioned by House of Training – Financial Technology Transfer Agency, rolled out a comprehensive skills enhancement program for financial institutions in several regions (Southeast Asia, Europe). The objective was to equip banking decision-makers and their high-potential staff with operational and strategic tools to effectively manage financial institutions and support SME financing.

1. Computerized banking simulation program

• Context: competitive environment of full-service virtual banks, quarterly decisions on loans, deposits, investments, and market operations.

• Tools developed by BBA:

  • BankSim (global financial management)

  • CredSim & CredStrat (credit risk management)

  • BranchSim (branch performance)

• Mechanics:

  • Management teams submit a decision form

  • Automated calculation of results and generation of reports (pie charts, heat maps)

  • Group debriefings to extract lessons learned and best practices

2. Training modules: “Financial institution management”

• Risk management: liquidity, credit, off-balance sheet

• Distribution & business lines: distribution channels, private banking, investment banking

• Products & compliance: savings, certificates of deposit, Basel I/II/III standards

• Delivery methods: face-to-face workshops, virtual sessions via a web platform, practical case studies

3. “SME financing” modules

• Key concepts and SME lending strategy

• Appropriate marketing and sales approach

• Rating tools (scorecards) and assessment tools

• Business plan analysis and financial projections

• Defect management: identification of non-performing loans and remediation

4. Skills transfer and sustainability

• Training of trainers: introduction to the simulators and facilitation of sessions

• Customization: adaptation of content and translation of materials

• Licenses & support: provision of licenses for internal use and software maintenance

• Deliverables: user guides, simulation manuals, evaluation questionnaires, summary reports

Impact

• More than 1,000 executives trained through 15 partner training institutes

• Long-term adoption of BBA simulations for internal bank training

• Strengthened decision-making and operational capabilities, measurable improvement in performance indicators (profitability, credit processing time, portfolio quality)

This fully integrated approach has enabled our clients to consolidate their management processes, significantly reduce credit risk and optimize SME access to finance.