CSFI functions as a critical friend to one of the most dynamic and important parts of the UK economy, recognising that what happens in the world of financial services affects us all.
About
Us
The spirit of free and intelligent discussion, unshackled by competitive restraints or partisan agendas, has been at the heart of CFSI’s work since its founding in 1993.
Since December 2024, the CSFI has been led by Harry Weber-Brown.
Harry is also Director of Partnerships at our parent organisation, the London Foundation for Banking & Finance (LFBF).
ADGMA Academy
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Our Partners
ADGMA Academy
ADGM Academy is part of Abu Dhabi Global Market – an award-winning global financial centre with a strong sustainable finance agenda. The Academy was founded to build expertise, financial education and literacy to power commercial and public sector organisations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
ADGM Academy works with expert partners from across the globe to offer a comprehensive programme of study in banking and finance – including sustainable finance.
We work with ADGM Academy to offer our Executive Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Finance to banking and financial services professionals in the MENA region.
Asian Banking School
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Asian Banking School
The Asian Banking School (ABS) is dedicated to developing banking talent and is the industry provider of premium professional banking education for the industry.
ABS is created by the industry to develop world-class talents through thought leadership, capability development, certification, apprenticeship and industry awareness training for the banking sector.
ABS is built upon the legacy of Institut Bank-Bank Malaysia (IBBM) in delivering professional qualifications and training programmes for the banking industry. Registered in 2012 and officially launched by the then Bank Negara Malaysia Governor at the end of 2013, ABS started its full operation in August 2015.
Académie des Banques et Finance (ABF) de Tunisie
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Académie des Banques et Finance (ABF) de Tunisie
ABF is an association of all the Tunisian banks and financial institutions, founded in 2010 to create an academy dedicated to training professionals in financial services in Tunisia.
Working with trainers from both ABF and IFID, we created an extended training programme for the Tunisian Ministry of Finance and a shorter course for non-executive directors on the boards of Tunisia’s largest banks. Both programmes combined technical knowledge and soft skills with real-life practical learning.
More recently, to help during the Covid-19 crisis, we ran a tailored programme covering all aspects of bank governance in a crisis.
Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF)
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Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF)
We ran a series of successful training programmes at board level for banks in Bahrain on early-warning signals.
We have an ongoing exchange with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance – sharing content and ideas as well as supporting each other to deliver courses for board and senior management.
Coastline Solutions
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Fintech Nexus
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Fintech Nexus
Fintech Nexus (formerly Lendit Fintech) is a diversified media company providing essential knowledge, connections and inspiration to the entire financial services industry. It creates a link between traditional finance and the future of finance.
Each year, Fintech Nexus reaches more than 50,000 unique banking, fintech and investment executives through its diverse portfolio of news, events, podcasts, webinars, whitepapers, newsletters and credentialled educational courses.
As fintech takes centre stage, Fintech Nexus reports the news on a daily basis, enabling real-time discussion and empowering the fintech community with in-depth learning.
IPBF
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IPBF
The IPBF is a non-profit institution dedicated to training programmes that allow participants to expand their knowledge and develop their creative capacity, in order to improve the level of efficiency and productivity.
From its beginnings in May 1983, the Institute has developed courses and programmes to meet the needs of entry level, middle managers and leaders of the banking, financial and insurance sectors.
Institute of Financial Technologists of Asia (IFTA)
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Institute of Financial Technologists of Asia (IFTA)
The Institute of Financial Technologists of Asia (IFTA) is the first certification body in Asia for financial technologists, founded as a not-for-profit organisation by Mr. Wilson Kwok, Mr. Andy Chung and Mr. Paul Pong. IFTA capitalises on their combined extensive experience in financial and information & communication technology (ICT) industries.
IFTA aims to uphold the standards for Fintech professionals through training, examination, CPD (continuous professional development), ethics, and code of conduct. Similar to the CFA or the CFP, the Certified Financial Technologist (CFT) status is granted to industry practitioners proficient in both finance and technology and who meet professional FinTech industry requirements. Eligible candidates will need to pass the IFTA designated FinTech programme and are required to abide by a code of ethics.
IFTA’s goals are to create a globally recognised standard for the FinTech profession, nurture talent, and promote the continued development of the industry. They are based in Hong Kong/Cyberport and setting up local chapters in Mainland Chinese cities and neighbouring countries.
Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS)
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Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS)
We ran a series of successful training programmes at board level for banks in Kuwait on corporate governance.
The Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies is a Trusted Partner of LIBF holding a number of programme accreditations. We have an ongoing exchange to share content and ideas as well as supporting each other to deliver courses for board and senior management.
Risk Coalition
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Risk Coalition
The Risk Coalition is a network of not-for-profit professional bodies and membership organisations committed to raising the standards of risk governance in the UK.
The Risk Coalition published Raising the Bar in December 2019 to provide coherent, high quality, principles-based good practice guidance for board risk committees and risk functions in the UK financial services sector.
The Risk Coalition’s objectives for Raising the Bar are to:
- establish a common understanding of the purpose, role and activities of the board risk committee and risk function
- provide a benchmark against which board risk committees and risk functions can be assessed objectively
- fill the gap given the absence of principles-based, good practice risk guidance – whilst recognising the presence of detailed regulation
- raise the general standard of risk governance and oversight practice in UK financial services and beyond.
Findexible
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nstitut De Financement Du Développement Du Maghreb Arabe (IFID)
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nstitut De Financement Du Développement Du Maghreb Arabe (IFID)
L’Institut De Financement Du Développement Du Maghreb Arabe (IFID) – or the Institute of the Arab Maghreb Development Financing – was founded in 1981 by the governments of Tunisia and Algeria. IFID’s purpose is to promote education in banking and finance across the Maghreb.
IFID trains staff at the Tunisian Ministry of Finance and for the large banks. Many of IFID’s graduates reach the top of the banking and finance sector in North Africa.
Working with trainers from both ABF and IFID, we created an extended training programme for the Tunisian Ministry of Finance and a shorter course for non-executive directors on the boards of Tunisia’s largest banks. Both programmes combined technical knowledge and soft skills with real-life practical learning.
Who are CSFI?
The Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI) is a think tank that seeks to engage in and promote free and progressive discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing the modern financial services sector. Our work focuses on the most significant drivers of change in the industry, including:
- technology – the potential impact of AI and other digital advances
- sustainable finance – the role of banks and financial regulators in tackling the risks associated with climate change
- finance for an ageing society – innovative solutions to pensions, housing and demographic issues
- the UK and Europe – the new world of trade and regulation
- financial inclusion – empowerment and education.
Our in-house experience and connections within the industry mean that CSFI is able to provide cutting-edge thought leadership and research to help shape the future of the financial world.
The aim of our research is to open thought-provoking debate about the financial services, with a view to making the industry more transparent, more inclusive and, above all, more sustainable. We are free from competitive constraints and partisan agendas and so can share our research and ideas from an objective, impartial perspective.
Our
History
The Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI) was set up at the beginning of 1993 by Andrew Hilton, formerly an economist at the World Bank, and by David Lascelles, who had been banking editor at the Financial Times.
CSFI has run hundreds of face-to-face debates and events over the years and has deep roots in the City. Its first chairman, Sir Kit McMahon, had been deputy governor of the Bank of England. The next was Sir George Blunden, also a former deputy governor of the Bank of England. He was followed by Sir Brian Pearse, the former chief executive of Midland Bank. He was followed by Sir Malcom Williamson, former Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank. The last chair of CSFI as a stand-alone charity was Giles Andrews, a co-founder of Zopa and a director of the Bank of Ireland.
Following many years of collaboration on events and debates, CSFI joined The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) in November 2022 and transferred to The London Foundation for Banking & Finance (LFBF) in 2024.