Certified Private Banking Manager (CPBM®)

The Certified Private Banking Manager (CPBM®) is a power-packed education program designed by the Equalifi.

The CPBM® designation is meant for the professionals working in or aspiring to work in financial advisory, multi-family offices, wealth management, private banking, asset management and investment advisory services.

High net-worth individuals and affluent business families have unique needs that can’t be properly addressed by an advisor with a basic financial planning background. A wealth manager for high net-worth individuals and families, needs to learn how to identify and analyze challenges these clients face, and understand how to develop specific strategies to minimize tax, monetize and protect assets, maximize growth and transfer wealth.

The Certified Private Banking Manager (CPBM®) certification program is an advanced credential created specifically for wealth managers who work with these clients, focusing on life cycle of wealth: accumulation, preservation & distribution.

A Certified Private Banking Manager (CPBM®) is expected to have expertise in:

  • Investment advisory- Traditional & Alternatives
  • Discretionary portfolio management
  • Lending
  • Wealth Protection
  • Risk Management
  • Tax Planning- Domestic & Cross-border
  • Estate and trust planning
  • Wealth structuring
  • General financial planning including charitable donations, inheritance, retirement etc

What is ‘Private Banking’

The term private banking refers to a customized line of banking & financial services offered to private individual banking clients that earn high levels of income and/ or owning sizable investment assets, such as ‘High Net Worth Individuals’ (HNWIs). Such private services are distinctive from retail banking services offered or standard wealth management in that clients are assigned a relationship managers or private banker that specifically deal with them personally. In general, it is a valued added banking service in comparison to traditional banking that offers more sophisticated products and more personalized customer service.

Private Banking (PB) is a form of wealth management service offered to ultra-high net worth individuals ($1mn and upwards).

Private banking vs Retail banking

Retail banks provide banking services to the general public. Anyone can open a bank account at a retail bank to, for example, receive his/her salary, pay utility bills etc. A commercial bank provides banking services to businesses and business entities  A private bank however, specialises in sophisticated banking and investment services for (very) wealthy private individuals on the one hand, and in the wealth planning structures they (often) use to manage their wealth and/ or to keep their wealth safe on the other.

Nowadays the term private banking is commonly used by any bank for banking services provided to wealthy persons and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI) and private banking is being provided by numerous banks located both onshore (depending on your home country) and offshore (in various foreign jurisdictions).

A private bank will offer its clients a higher service level than a retail bank:

  • For the affluent client these services will primarily consist of a broader range of (international) investment products. A relation manager in this segment normally takes care of several hundred clients.
  • Private Banking clients with investable assets of over USD 1 million will often have direct access to financial experts such as Investment Advisors, FX-traders, Credit specialists, Wealth Planners, etc., or may even benefit from in-house family office services. A relation manager in this segment normally takes care of no more than twenty-five clients. Clients of this size often also make use of an independent family office.

Not every bank applies client segmentation so strictly, especially with regard to the difference between the private banking and wealth management level. In those banks the emphasis is more on long-standing relationships in combination with a focus on specific geographical markets. This approach is often considered as more personal and quite often results into long-term relationships between the relationship manager (banker) and the client. Sometimes these relationships last for decades and cover several generations.

Although the private banking services are provided to (UHNWI), in the majority of private banks this also includes the accounts held by structures commonly used by (UHNWI), such as International Holding Companies, Trusts, Foundations and Limited Partnerships.

Training Calendar: 

You can find the upcoming training schedule for CPBM program here

STRUCTURE

Exam Details

Equalifi is offering the CPBM examination on an external, remote-proctored platform. Candidates can schedule an exam by paying the exam fee. Once the exam fee payment is done and exam registration is confirmed, the exam platform sends out the exam link by email to the candidates. Candidates can appear for the exam anytime any day within the next 1 year through this exam link from any place. Candidates need a good internet connection and a functional camera on their PC/ Laptop to appear for this exam.

EXAM

Sr. No. Name of Module Type of Questions Test Duration No. of Questions Maximum Marks Pass Marks (%) Negative Marking
1

Certified Private Banking Manager (CPBM®)

MCQ 2 Hrs 100 100 50 20%

Registration Process:

Candidates can register for Equalifi Academy’s Certification programs through any of the following modes:

Member Mode

Under this mode, candidate first needs to sign up as an Equalifi Individual Member. As a member, a candidate gets complimentary access to study resources, tutorials (live and recordings) and various other member benefits round the year.

Equalifi Membership is for a year. Candidate can study for any of Equalifi’s education programs during membership tenure. To appear for any exam, a candidate needs to register for the particular exam and appear within a year from the date of exam registration.

Exam Mode

Under this mode, a candidate can directly register for the certification exam of his choice. Once registered for the exam,  candidates will receive the exam link by email within 7 working days. Candidates can appear for the exam anytime from anywhere on a remote proctored platform within 1 year from the date of exam registration.

Candidates registering under the exam mode do not get access to any study material or training.

Equalifi regularly conducts exam preparation training for various certification exams. Candidates who wish to attend live training, can either pay and register for each training or sign up as an Equalifi Member to get complimentary access to all study resources for a year.

Upcoming training programs are listed here- Skill-Building Programs

Membership details are given here- Equalifi Individual Memberships

Candidate Audit:

Equalifi will randomly audit a percentage of applications on a regular basis. Candidates will be responsible for providing the requested supporting documentation to verify their education and professional background as mentioned in the registration form. Equalifi’s practice is not to contact employers or educational institutions to obtain verification documentation on the candidate’s behalf. Failure to comply with the audit, falsification or misrepresentation of requested information and/or any unprofessional conduct will result in denial/cancellation of the exam registration and/or revocation of the program certificate. Candidates subject to audit will be notified by e-mail and will have 10 business days to respond. Once selected for audit, candidates will be required to satisfy the audit requirements before being able to receive the final certificate. Failure to comply with the audit will result in forfeiting all fees. Additionally, a candidate who does not comply with the audit will be subject to audit if reapplying for a future testing window.

Fee Details:

Certified Private Banking Manager (CPBM)

For Equalifi Members

For Non-Members

Fee

INR 1,770

INR 3,540

*Fee mentioned is inclusive of GST. Exam fee is applicable for one attempt.

Exam Preparatory Material

Access the CPBM tutorial recordings and study material here

Register for Exam