Students in Texas Southern University’s Future Bankers Leadership Program (FBLP) achieved an impressive 100 percent pass rate for a key professional certification exam – giving them a distinct advantage as they pursue careers in the finance and banking industry. This marks the third consecutive semester the entire FBLP cohort has passed the exam.

The Risk Management Association Credit Essentials Certificate (RMA CEC), which is tied to the program’s curriculum, helps students immediately distinguish themselves in a highly competitive field. The exam covers a variety of subjects, including cash flow, financial statements, projections, management, strategy, customer relations, credit, documentation and tax returns.

The students earned the RMA CEC by scoring an 80 or higher on the rigorous 80-question test.

“This is a commendable academic achievement,” said Dr. David Yen, dean of TSU’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business. “It represents the teaching excellence of our faculty and our student learning abilities. This achievement will certainly enhance our students’ future success in the financial industry. The RMA certification puts our students a step ahead of others, and it will stand out as they are considered for employment – banks and other financial institutions look for individuals with this certificate.”

The Future Bankers Leadership Program began in fall 2021 and has received significant financial support from a wide range of partners within the banking/financial industry and foundations.

The FBLP gives TSU students direct exposure to commercial banking and introduces them to the industry through a formal curriculum, interaction with executives and industry mentors, and commercial banking internships.

One of the strategies for student success is to have industry-recognized credentials such as the RMA CEC embedded in select courses of the program, making graduates very attractive to potential employers.

For more information about the FBLP program, please visit the program web page or contact Muriel Funches, executive director of advancement at the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, at Muriel.funches@tsu.edu.