Walbrook Institute London
Walbrook Institute London is a for-profit provider of apprenticeships, degrees and professional qualifications, with students being members of the LIBF professional body. It is one of five bodies in the UK accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority to maintain professional standards for financial advisors that use its services.
It was spun off in 2023 under the name LIBF from the London Institute of Banking & Finance and became a subsidiary of IU Group. LIBF changed its name to the Walbrook Institute London in 2025, with the LIBF brand continuing to be used for professional qualifications.
History
The Institute of Bankers was established in 1879. It was established by bank workers who saw a need for professional standards and education in the industry. This idea received relative popularity, gaining 2,000 members by the end of its first year. The first exams took place in 1880 and were opened to women in 1917 – a year before women were given the vote in the UK but after the degrees of all British universities except Oxford and Cambridge.The institute gained a royal charter in 1987 becoming the Chartered Institute of Bankers and in 1993 merged with the Chartered Building Societies Institute.
In 1996, the institute offered its first degree – the BSc in financial services – offered as a dual award with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. It was the first professional award to be linked to a university degree.
The name changed in 1997 to the Institute of Financial Services. In the same year, the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice was introduced – this was the first qualification for UK mortgage professionals.
In 2001 the institute launched the first personal finance qualifications for young people in the UK, equivalent to an AS-level. In the same year, the Institute became the first educational body in the sector to provide electronic assessment for its regulatory qualifications.
After becoming the IFS School of Finance in 2006, the institute was granted taught degree awarding powers by the privy council in 2010. It was then able to award both undergraduate and taught postgraduate degrees in its own right without validation from a third-party university. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills granted the title ‘University College’ in 2013, and in 2016 the Institute became The London Institute of Banking & Finance.
On 31 March 2023, the institute changed its name to the London Foundation for Banking & Finance, retaining its status as an educational charity, and a new limited company, LIBF Limited was created. The institute's operations and Ofqual-recognised awarding powers were transferred to the new company on 31 March 2023. On the same date, the new company became a wholly owned subsidiary of IU Group, owners of IU International University of Applied Sciences based in Erfurt, Germany. The institute's activities remain unchanged but, as a result of the constitutional change, LIBF Limited lost the right to use the title 'University' or 'University College'.
The ongoing educational charity, now known as the London Foundation for Banking & Finance continues to award Chartered Associate status and to carry out the institute's various charitable activities.
Academic profile
Degree awarding powers
In 2025, LIBF expanded to offer qualifications on topics beyond banking and finance. To reflect this broader focus, the institution changed their name to Walbrook Institute London in 2025. LIBF remains a key part of Walbrook Institute, continuing to oversee its banking and finance qualifications.Walbrook Institute London, holds UK taught degree awarding powers, allowing it to grant degrees up to taught master's degree level. The London Institute of Banking & Finance's Ofqual recognition was transferred to Walbrook Institute London in 2023, then known as LIBF.
Professional qualifications
LIBF is the provider of the CeMAP qualification, and has trained over 100,000 qualified mortgage advisers. It is an FCA Accredited Body and also offers qualifications at Level 4 and Level 6 for regulated financial advisers. As part of its role as an FCA Accredited Body it issues Statements of Professional Standing which are required for those practising as a professional retail investment adviser, and has a publicly searchable Professional Services Register. It also provides international qualifications in trade finance and international banking qualifications. Members and students of LIBF undertake continuing professional development and professional programmes in finance which can lead to chartered status.International centres and partnerships
LIBF works in partnership with institutes and banks around the world. It is an academic partner of the International Chamber of Commerce, with senior members of staff contributing to several ICC taskforces.LIBF MENA
LIBF's Abu Dhabi office provides education and training to the banking and finance sector in the Gulf Council Countries, and the Middle East and North Africa region.Since 2017, LIBF MENA has been working in partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Markets Academy. ADGMA and LIBF have set up a learning centre to provide education in banking and financial services to young Emirati professionals. The learning centre also publishes research, contributes to debates and forums and provides peer-to-peer engagement opportunities.