The Institute
Banque Valiant joins ISFB to train, innovate and strengthen its roots in the French-speaking part of Switzerland
As a key player on the Swiss banking scene, Valiant Bank is committed to developing the skills of its employees in a constantly evolving sector. By joining the ISFB, we are affirming our ambition to become a training bank, while reinforcing our attractiveness as an employer. Find out how this strategic collaboration supports its mission of simplicity, excellence and sustainability.
What were the main reasons why your company decided to join the ISFB as an institutional member?
There are several. The most important is that Valiant Bank wants to be a training bank. Banking professions are becoming increasingly complex, and the proliferation of regulations is forcing banking establishments to keep their managers' and staff's knowledge up to date and to develop it further. Banque Valiant SA is a supra-regional bank with a strong presence in French-speaking Switzerland. However, the number of employees in the French-speaking part of the country is not sufficient to provide specific in-house training. The varied program of courses offered by the ISFB is a very good alternative. We have also commissioned ISFB to organize a seminar on constructive communication. In the new strategic phase, Valiant Bank Ltd also aims to attract and develop skilled employees through its attractiveness as an employer brand. Training opportunities are undoubtedly a key factor in this.
On another level, the ISFB is the only association that brings together almost all the banks operating in French-speaking Switzerland. As a universal bank with a strong presence in the French-speaking part of the country, it is only natural that Banque Valiant should be a member of the ISFB, to mark its presence in the region and raise its profile.
Could you tell us a little about your establishment?
Valiant Bank was formed in 1997 through the merger of a number of regional banks, particularly in the Bern, Aarau and Lucerne areas. The oldest of these is the Sparkasse Murten, which was founded in 1824. Banque Valiant is therefore a young bank, having celebrated its two hundredth anniversary last year! The bank has followed a major expansion strategy, as our activities now extend "from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva".
Today, Valiant Bank is a public limited company listed on the Swiss stock exchange and headquartered in Berne on the Place Fédérale. We employ around 1,000 people, including 500 advisors and some 80 trainees. The bank operates exclusively in Switzerland, serving the needs of private and high-net-worth individuals, Swiss SMEs and real estate professionals. In its strategy, Valiant Bank focuses on simplicity. The bank also aims to diversify its revenues in the areas of wealth accumulation and occupational pensions, and business development with SMEs. The bank is determined not only to create shareholder value by increasing profitability, but also to promote sustainability in its activities.
How do you see this membership contributing to the development of your employees' skills and enhancing the attractiveness of your employer brand?
As explained above, we believe it is vital to have employees with excellent skills, and these must be kept up to date as the banking professions evolve very rapidly. ISFB is the only player on the market to offer a range of training courses covering the entire spectrum of banking services. ISFB's training courses are renowned for their quality, and the recent partnership with Geneva's Haute Ecole de Gestion is ample proof of this. Being able to offer training of this quality to bank employees, or enabling them to take courses for their own account at a competitive rate, is fully in line with our employee development strategy and will undoubtedly enable us to develop our employer brand.
What do you think our professional association can contribute to the French-speaking world?
ISFB is unique in several respects. On the one hand, it is the only association to offer such a wide range of training courses focusing exclusively on banking and finance. With the exception of in-house training within banks, it is very difficult to follow such highly specific courses due to the lack of supply. On the other hand, it is also the only association that exclusively welcomes banks operating in French-speaking Switzerland. This also offers a certain visibility and a considerable network covering almost all banks operating in the French-speaking part of our country. In my opinion, these two points are decisive assets, as well as providing a "Romande" vision and sensibility in the banking sector.
