Maryse Gabbay, you recently joined ISFB as Head of Certifications. How do you feel after just a few weeks in this role?

ISFB was one of the first continuing education providers in Geneva and French-speaking Switzerland to offer a preparatory program for SAQ CWMA certification.
In my initial contacts with local banks, I was particularly struck by the strong bonds and spirit of cooperation and trust that prevailed between the banks' representatives and the ISFB team. The ISFB is perceived as a genuine partner for exchange and support in this certification process, which, as we know, requires a great deal of rigor and energy.

What do you see as ISFB's major strengths and assets in this area?

There are several. The first is our expertise. I've known the Institute for many years, having worked there as an expert in oral examinations when I was employed by Credit Suisse. This is one of the many distinctive features of the ISFB: most of the members of our professional association are experts working for our member or partner banks. or partner banks. We have chosen not to use generalist trainers, who are all-encompassing but often lack precision and relevance. Instead, we prefer to work exclusively with specialists who are truly rooted in their field, mastering the details and constantly evolving at the highest level of current practice. This is an invaluable asset for our members, and this ongoing selection of the best speakers is part of our competitive strength.

The second is our geography. We are committed to providing a friendly environment with welcoming, fully-equipped premises, where every detail has been thought out with our members' well-being in mind: a warm, personalized welcome, coffee on arrival, and a workspace that encourages exchanges. Our premises are located in the Pont-Rouge area of Geneva, within easy reach by train, car or bus. In French-speaking Switzerland, our permanent presence at our Institute illustrates our commitment and our desire to be close to our members. For examinations, it's crucial that the venues meet strict quality standards, both out of respect for our members and their staff, and to guarantee compliance with standards and preserve the validity of certifications.

The third is our individualized service. As Certification Manager, I work closely with the training or human resources managers in charge of the SAQ program at our member establishments. This proximity enables us to support managers throughout their training program, while maintaining high quality standards. In contrast to a standardized, profit-driven approach, we are committed to making this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, transforming an obligation that is sometimes perceived as restrictive into a constructive, positive experience. Our aim is to support banking establishments in the certification of their staff through regular exchanges, tailor-made support for HR managers and targeted preparatory training, to help them prepare their managers to meet the requirements of the Financial Markets Act.

Beyond these three major assets, what do you think sets ISFB apart from other training organizations or companies offering SAQ certification?

As a not-for-profit trade association, our priority is to support our members in developing the skills of their employees. We rely on scientific committees made up of experts from our member banks, guaranteeing in-depth expertise tailored to the needs of the sector. In contrast to a purely commercial logic, our approach favors a more human learning and certification process, although this may sometimes entail slightly higher costs for managers. However, this cost represents a real investment, because beyond passing an exam, it is the development of skills that is at the heart of our approach. We know that this development relies above all on close exchanges with peers and experts, a dynamic that is difficult to reproduce in the context of simple e-learning, however well-designed it may be.

What developments does ISFB intend to bring to SAQ Certification?

Certification is a process that is sometimes perceived negatively by those concerned. Our aim is to transform this constraint into an opportunity, by offering high-quality face-to-face training to encourage exchange and networking, as well as close contact with HR and training managers, so that they can take advantage of this process to support skills development within their establishments. Certification thus becomes not only a guarantee of safety and compliance with standards, but also a real performance lever for banking establishments.

Maryse Gabbay

Head of Certifications (ISFB)