IBSL Diploma in Applied Banking and Finance (DABF) Exam study plan

Map the full DABF syllabus into a one-page topic checklist for Domains 1 and 2

Define core banking operations terminology (settlement, clearing, nostro/vostro, reconciliation) in your own words

Explain the five Cs of credit and apply them to two hypothetical borrower profiles

Draft a personal study calendar allocating weekly slots across all four domains

Trace the end-to-end lifecycle of a payment from initiation to final settlement

Compare payment systems and instruments (RTGS, cheques, cards, mobile money) on speed, cost and risk

Identify the operational risk controls that sit at each stage of a transaction

Solve 15 practice questions on banking operations and log every error with its cause

Compute key operational ratios (cost-to-income, liquidity, reconciliation breaks) from sample figures

Walk through a loan application from origination to disbursement and name the decision point at each stage

List the documents and covenants typically required in a secured lending facility

Write out the difference between credit risk, operational risk and market risk with one example each

Calculate interest, amortisation schedules and effective annual rates for three loan types

Assess collateral valuation, loan-to-value and coverage ratios on a worked case

Explain credit scoring, provisioning and non-performing loan classification rules

Complete a timed 25-question mock on credit and lending and score above 70%

Define development finance and distinguish it from commercial banking mandates

Explain the roles of development finance institutions, multilateral banks and microfinance providers

Compare financing instruments (concessional loans, guarantees, blended finance, grants) on risk and purpose

Apply environmental, social and governance screening criteria to a project appraisal

Assess how development finance supports SME and agricultural lending in emerging markets

Outline the regulatory architecture governing banks (licensing, capital, liquidity and conduct rules)

Explain Basel-style capital adequacy, leverage and liquidity requirements at a conceptual level

Identify anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer obligations across the customer lifecycle

Summarise the legal principles of banker-customer relationships, mandates and account operation

Explain the duties of confidentiality, care and the consequences of negligence or breach

Work through compliance scenarios involving suspicious activity reporting and sanctions screening

Draft concise answers to five short-answer legal and compliance questions under timed conditions

Consolidate all four domains into a single revision sheet of key formulas, definitions and rules

Complete two full-length timed mock exams and review every incorrect answer

Re-drill the top 20 error-log items until each is answered correctly twice

Rehearse exam-day timing and question-selection strategy