Caiib BFM Strategy

BFM::;;

The strategy for the study of Bank Financial Management which many people finds difficult to clear. If you study properly, it is easy to clear the BFM. This subject also contains 4 modules, they are;

-International Banking

-Risk Management

-Treasury Management

-Balance Sheet Management

Many people do not correlate the syllabus of the subject with day to day banking activity. So they find it difficult to score and understand this subject. But this not true, this subject is very much important which will increase your knowledge regarding top management & middle management functioning of your bank as well as banking as a whole industry.

All the modules are equally important, but you may clear the paper with three modules study also. Module A & B are relatively easy and scoring as well. Let us discuss strategy for each module.

Module A-International Banking

Important topics are Exchange Rates and Forex Business, Basics for Forex Derivatives, Documentary LC, and Facilities for Exporters & Importers

Rapid reading or bullet point reading is quite useful for this module. Practice numerical again and again.

Many numerical/case studies are asked from this module which are quite easy as compared to Module B & Module D case studies. Refer the case studies from McMillan given at the end of the topic. Also N.S.Toor book has many numerical and case studies. Questions are asked on Exchange rates, Shipment Finance etc.

Module B-Risk Management

All chapters are equally important as they are interlinked to each other. Again focus more on case studies/numericals given in Apendix at the end of chapter. Maximum case studies are asked from this module. Though short notes are useful for this module I would suggest McMillan reading for this module because some questions are twisted type for which you require details of the concept which is hard to get from short notes. RBI website contains FAQs which are quite useful for this modules, you should read them at least once.

Module C- Treasury Management

Important topics are Introduction, Types of treasury products, Treasury Risk Management, Treasury and Asset-Liability Management.

Mostly questions asked on this module are theoretical type, so through reading of McMillan is important. If you don’t get time then you can skip this module or read short notes since the weighted of this module for exam point of view is low according to me as compared to Module A&B. But those who wish to make carrier or work in treasury department, this is the best module to learn.

Module-D Balance Sheet Management

Important chapters are Components of ALM in Bank’s Balance Sheet, Capital and banking Regulation,, Capital Adequacy, Asset Classification and Provisioning Norms, Interest rate Risk management.

Though McMillan book contain sufficient material but I would suggest you to refer RBI website for this module. In this module focus more on Case Studies as compared to theoretical questions. Do not skip this module as it is much important for exam as well as knowledge point of view. No need to read McMillan line by line.

Overall you have to keep balance between theoretical reading as well as case studies/numerical since the paper would contain 40-45% case studies. N.S.Toor book contains good case studies and MCQs. Also there are many resources available on the internet from where you will get case studies for this module. After giving this paper you will realized that BFM is easier as compared to ABM and no need to worry for BFM.

Caiib ABM strategy

CAIIB ABM Strategy

ABM is one of the compulsory subjects for CAIIB. Most of the people find difficult to clear this paper. Today, I will tell you how to study for ABM subject.

This subject also contains 4 modules

MODULE – A: Economic Analysis

MODULE – B : Business Mathematics

MODULE – C : HRM in banks

MODULE – D : Credit Management

As we are bank employees we get very less time for study, so how to decide which topics to be read, which topics to be skipped?

-As I had told you in my previous blog article that generally paper consists of 60% theoretical & 40% numerical or case studies, so choose the module to be study in deep so as to clear the paper easily depending upon your personal strength and weakness.

If you observed all the modules, you will realize that Module A and Module C are most scoring modules. Do not skip these modules. Module B contains Business Mathematics which many people find difficult to study as the level of mathematics is tough, especially for non-engineering background people. Those who works in Credit/Loan Department will find that Module D easy as well as interesting. Module D is most important not only exam point of view but also for your daily working in Credit Department. So do not skip Module D.

IMPORTANT TOPICS FROM EACH MODULE

Module A- Supply and Demand, Money Supply and Inflation, Business Cycles, GDP Concepts and Union Budget.

No need to read McMillan Book line by line for thise module, short notes will be quite useful for studying this module. Don’t read stats given in these chapters. In GDP Concepts and Union Budget chapters numerical are asked which are quite easy provided you know the components and formula.

Module B-Time Value of Money, Sampling Methods, Simulation, Bond Investment

Don’t go to deep for study this module as mathematical calculations are difficult to understand especially for non engineering background people. Practice the examples given in McMillan. Those who are not good at math can skip this module and focus more on remaining modules.

Module C-Development of Human Resources, Human Implications of Organisations, Performamce Management, HR & IT

You need to read thoroughly all the topics from this module from McMillan. It is quite easy and theoretical only. Repeatedly read MCQs from N.S. Toor book of this module.

Module D-Overview of Credit Management, Analysis of Financial Statement, Working Capital Finance, Credit Control and Monitoring, Rehabilitation and Recovery.

Read this module from McMillan book only. The chapters in this module are not lengthy as compared to other modules. Practice Numerical from Financial statement and balance sheet.

Overall, you have to study at least three modules in detail so as to achieve the 50 score. You can choose the modules to study more depending upon your strength. I would suggest that you can keep module B at last, just read formulas from this module, as this module is quite boring, lengthy and hard to understand.