Mission Statement

"To promote quality training and education programs for the financial services sector, to be innovative and responsive to the expanding needs of the business and financial community, and to develop creative synergy to foster and enhance sustained growth within the industry."

History

1974 was a milestone in Bahamian banking history - The Central Bank of The Bahamas was born, and the plans were laid for the formation of both the college of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services.

The idea for a Bahamian banking institute was the brainchild of the first governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, Mr. T. Baswell Donaldson. A number of meetings were held in 1974 before the stage was set for the Institute of Bankers to open its doors - July 9th, September 19th and November 28th, 1974, respectively. Pioneers in this initial effort include the late Dr. H.M.A. Van der Volk, then a U.N. advisor to the Central Bank of The Bahamas, Mr. R.W. Cavanaugh, Mr. N.E. Ireland, Mr. D.H. Mansfield, Mr. G.W. Minard, Dr. J.J. Morger and Mr. D. Fleming. This group formed the first Board of Trustees of The Bahamas Institute of Financial Services

Arrangements for lectures and classrooms were made with the College of the Bahamas via the Business and Administrative Studies Division at Soldier Road, chaired Mrs. Tine Cook. The programme actually began in September of 1975. The first Registrar of BIB was Mr. W. Burnett Gary.