SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Occupational Certificate: Business Banking Practitioner

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
120117	Occupational Certificate: Business Banking Practitioner
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - BANKSETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Finance, Economics and Accounting
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	202	Not Applicable	NQF Level 06	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"		EXCO 0522/24	2023-02-02	2025-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-31		2029-12-31

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Business Banking Practitioner. A Business Banking Practitioner works in financial institutions to helps their clients manage their finances in the most successful way possible, by facilitating processes to help them navigate the numerous services, procedures, and products available, including stocks, bonds, loans, international transactions, real estate, trade credits, insurance policies and more. They perform analysis of the clients' financial services needs and determine the best options to meet these needs. A competent learner shall demonstrate among others the following attributes: honesty, punctuality, initiative, critical analysis, integrity, ethics, professionalism.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Maintain and develop efficient relationship with business development team and promote banking business.

Analyse customer portfolio for business banking clients and maintain optimal client relationships for new business acquisition.

Establish customer requirements and recommend appropriate loan products and initiate approvals.

Monitor all queries for present customer and assist in resolving all issues for new requirements.

Design product launches and marketing campaigns and provide optimal levels of customer service and ensure satisfaction.

Assist commercial clients with all information for managing accounts.

Rationale:
In South Africa we currently have a shortage of the specific skills and attributes required for achieving the national development goals. The qualification is developed to build the required learners' competencies in a structured manner to improve service delivery for the banking and financial sector. Typical learners for the qualification are unqualified business bankers currently working with medium enterprises and aspirant Business Banking Practitioners. Learners who hold the Occupational Certificate: Business Banking Practitioner qualify to progress to Business Banker occupational qualification. This qualification was developed in collaboration with the banking sector.
Business Banking Practitioners play a critical role in the establishment, growth and sustainability of businesses and small corporate entities. The core focus is on business sustainability and growth. Business Banking Practitioners help clients manage their finances in the most successful way possible and help them navigate the numerous services, procedures and products available, including stocks, bonds, loans, international transactions, real estate, trade credits, insurance policies and more. The Business Banking Practitioner is in the forefront of job sustainability and the growth of the middle (working) class in South Africa.

Within the financial sector in South Africa most of the financial institutions provide a dedicated service to small, medium and large enterprises to assist them in obtaining appropriate financial services ranging from basic banking, operational financing, capital financing, insurance supplier payments, employee payments and a host of other business financial services. These services are obviously customised to support the business models of the various financial service institutions and also targeted at the specific entities that make up the current and potential client bases of the institutions.

The work done by employees, of the financial institutions, to deliver these services is diverse. However, there is a core knowledge and skills base relating to business, legal aspects, client relationships and ethics that run through the competency base required to effectively deliver these services. Learners who obtain the Business Banking Practitioner qualification shall have improved opportunities for promotion, improved financial status and better life.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification.

Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part qualification will be credited for modules through RPL.

RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

An NQF Level 4 qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules:

331205-001-00-KM-01, Introduction to Business Banking, Level 5, 36 Credits.

331205-001-00-KM-02, Dynamics of Medium Enterprise Financing, Level 6, 30 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 66

Practical Skill Modules:

331205-001-00-PM-01, Identify and Analyse the Financial Service Needs of Business Clients, Level 5, 16 Credits.

331205-001-00-PM-02, Build Appropriate Partnership Relationships with Business Clients and Win Business and Close Deals with Business Clients in the Financial Sector, Level 5, 26 Credits.

331205-001-00-PM-03, Interpret Medium Enterprise Financial Services Needs and Match them with Service Offerings/Products, Level 6, 30 Credits.

Total Number of Credits for Practical Skill Modules: 72

Work Experience Modules:

331205-001-00-WM-01, Processes Related to Determining Medium Enterprise Client Needs and Matching them with Appropriate Financial Solutions/Products; Level 6, 32 Credits.

331205-001-00-WM-02, Processes of Growing and Maintaining a Portfolio of Medium Enterprise Clients, Level 6, 32 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 64

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Establish and maintain sustainable, professional relationships with appropriate members of the banking business development teams to collaboratively promote the selling of banking/financial services to current and potential business banking clients.
2. Manage problems relating to the performance of a business banking portfolio in the provisioning of business banking services to clients operating medium business enterprises.
3. Investigate customer requirements for recommendations of appropriate loan products to initiate approvals processes within a business banking environment serving business clients in small and medium enterprises.
4. Investigate and monitor business banking customer queries and complaints for medium enterprise businesses.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Explain and contextualise the theory and generally accepted principles relating to professional business relationships within the context of a business banking environment.

Debate and contextualise appropriate theories, concepts and principles associated with the ethical marketing and sales of financial services to business banking clients within the daily realities of a dynamic business environment.

Analyse and evaluate a range of financial services marketing strategies in terms of their applicability to various business banking products and services.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Use appropriate processes to identify any problems associated with the performance of these portfolios.

Utilise collaborative processes and appropriate banking systems effectively to analyse identified problems with business banking portfolios and identify the root causes of these problems.

Gather relevant evidence in relation to business banking portfolio based on the identified problems using appropriate procedures within business banking services.

Utilise appropriate techniques to solve problems inherent to business banking portfolios and to identify ethical and legal solutions to these problems.

Apply solutions to business banking portfolio problems to clients for medium business enterprises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Identify accurately he regulatory requirements that govern and guide the application for and approval of a full range of financial services for business banking clients according to the most appropriate and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Describe, debate and correct the non-compliance with regulatory requirements according to the impact on clients, the company and the financial service agent/provider.

Evaluate, select and apply appropriate methods, procedures or techniques to investigate customer requirements for appropriate loan products.

Collect and capture Appropriate corporate client information in a format required for analysing the information, and making sustainable decisions relevant to a range of specific financial services solutions.

Analyse and interpret corporate client business information to reflect the legitimate and valid client needs.

Recommend appropriate loan products for approvals processes within a business banking environment serving business clients in small and medium enterprises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Evaluate methods, processes and procedures for monitoring, evaluating and responding to client queries and complaints and elaborate on their level of compliance with industry leading practices, ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Reflect upon the consequences of not appropriately responding to client queries and complaints and describe appropriate principles and procedures for ensuring good customer service using relevant practical examples.

Evaluate, select and apply appropriate methods, procedures or techniques to investigate and monitor business banking customer queries and complaints.

Resolve business banking customer queries and complaints.

Resolve issues for new requirements and application processes for medium enterprise business.

Integrated Assessment
Integrated Assessment Formative Assessment:
The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated Assessment Summative Assessment:
An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. The assessment will be conducted through written assessment and the evaluation of practical tasks at decentralised approved assessment sites by a panel of assessors.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification was compared with two qualifications in United Kingdom and Australia.

United Kingdom
Diploma in Business and Commercial Banking and Conduct is offered by London Institute of Banking. The Diploma builds on the Certificate Programme and provides more opportunity for practical application. In the Diploma the following unit is included:

Unit 3 - Advanced Business and Commercial Banking and Conduct

Application of advanced credit and lending analysis models.

The role of relationship managers as risk managers to promote responsible lending.

Principles and processes of responsible and sustainable lending.

Factors involved in Lending Decisions.

Impact of the key regulatory and legislative influences.

Similarities
The qualifications' purpose, content and complexity are similar to the South African occupational qualification. They both cover banking regulatory framework, professional and ethical conduct, risk management, business / portfolio analysis, business dynamics, customer relations. They also have the same duration for delivery.

Australia
Advanced Diploma in Financial Services is offered by TAFE International Vocational Training Institute. The Commercial Banker equates to the Medium Enterprise Business Banker and, after completing a High School Diploma these bankers are required to complete a qualification similar to the Advanced Diploma in Financial Services.

This qualification covers modules such as:

Core:

Manage quality customer service within the financial services industry.

Provide Leadership

Manage innovation and continuous improvement.

Build and maintain client relationships.

Apply principles of professional practice.

Plan and Establish compliance practices.

Electives:

Integrate customer engagements.

Participate in client risk management.

Establish or review marketing, client services and supplier relationships.

Similarities:
The qualifications' purpose, content and complexity are similar to the South African occupational qualification. They both cover banking regulatory framework, professional and ethical conduct, risk management, customer relations.

Differences:
The South African occupational certificate covers dynamics of medium business financing, whereas the Australian Advanced Diploma covers business leadership.

Conclusion:
The Business Banking Practitioner compares favourably with the compared qualifications in terms of purpose, complexity and content.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Financial Advisor, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Internal Auditing, NQF Level 6.

Vertical Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Internal Auditor, NQF Level 7.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for the external summative assessment learners must have a copy of a completed and signed Statement of Work Experience as well as proof of successful completion of all the knowledge and practical skill modules specified in the curriculum or through the Recognition of Prior Learning process (RPL).

Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:

None

Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers:
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

The curriculum title and code are: Business Banking Practitioner (Medium Enterprise): 331205-001- 00-00

Encompassed Trades:

This is not a trade qualification.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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