The Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) certification is the undisputed professional credential for financial services professionals whose primary function and expertise focus on financial services marketing.

The CFMP designation signifies that an individual working in this field has attained comprehensive training in the following professional knowledge areas: Financial Principles, Laws & Regulations, Market Research, Characteristics of Marketing Plans, and Marketing Components.

Curriculum

Candidates must pass an examination that covers the knowledge areas below:

Financial Principles
Candidates must possess an understanding of a financial institution's financial management process, including asset/liability management, cost/benefit analysis, balance sheets, income statements, and ratios.

Laws & Regulations
Candidates must possess an understanding of the laws and regulations that govern a financial institution's advertising and market planning with relation to loan, deposit and non-traditional products, promotions, give-aways, sweepstakes and privacy considerations.

Market Research
Candidates must possess an understanding of the market research process to include qualitative and quantitative techniques and customer and competitive intelligence.

Characteristics of Marketing Plans
Candidates must possess an understanding of the market planning process to include situation analysis, objectives, market segmentation, target marketing, customer relationship management, strategies, tactics, outcome measurement and results.

Marketing Components
Candidates must possess an understanding of both the marketing and promotion mix to include campaign design, product characteristics, brand characteristics, pricing strategies, delivery channel alternatives, public relations, sales support, and ethics.


Examination Requirements

The qualifying exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions; three hours is provided in which to complete the exam. Candidates may retake the exam if they do not pass; the exam re-take fee is $150. Candidates have the option of taking the exam in one of two formats:

• A proctored exam at the candidate’s company, with an ICB-certified member serving as exam proctor
• At an exam site that is within 2 hours driving time from the candidate's company

Additional Requirements

Candidates must meet the experience, education, ethics and examination requirements determined to be appropriate competency measures:

• Professional Experience & Education: must meet one requirement
   
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in financial services marketing and a graduate from one of the following educational programs:
   
• ABA's School of Bank Marketing and Management, or
• AIB Bank Marketing Diploma, or
• ICB-approved Graduate School of Banking, (i.e., Stonier), or
• MBA or other advanced degree in marketing
   
• Five (5) years of experience in financial services marketing and a bachelor's degree.
   
• Professional Reference - One letter of recommendation from your manager attesting to your qualifications for certification, including your financial services marketing experience is required
• Ethics Statement - Each candidate must sign ICB's Professional Code of Ethics statement, which is the last page of the application

• Application – Candidates must complete and submit an application, affirming that they comply with the eligibility requirements at the time of submission; application fee is $295 for ABA Marketing Network Members or $495 for non ABA Marketing Network Members; covers exam as well.

Continuing Education Requirements

Each certificant must complete thirty-five (35) credits of continuing education every three (3) years. Certificants are allowed to carry over up to one-third of your earned credits per three-year cycle.

An annual membership fee also is required to keep certification active - $99 for ABA Marketing Network Members and $199 for non-ABA Marketing Network Members.
At FinanceCerts.com we provide CFMP study guides to compliment the main study notes with the course.