Paul W. Barret, Jr. Graduate School of Banking
A curriculum for the future leaders of the community banking industry
Designed by community bankers...for community bankers
There are many reasons why Barret is endorsed by so many community banking associations and one of them is our unique curriculum in our graduate school. We don’t want to teach you what you already know…we are looking to build the next generation of community banking leaders!!!
Each year has a particular focus to help you on your career journey. Your freshman year is spent moving beyond the basics and also exposing you to areas of banking that you may not be familiar with. It is also the start through our unique Strategic Planning path throughout all 3 years. Your second year begins your deeper dive into the numbers of a bank from a strategic perspective. Your third year caps off your journey with executive level courses and our proprietary banking simulation via our partnership with The Banque.
Finally, Barret’s curriculum is designed around what we call the “holistic banker”. Great community bankers are those that are both emotionally intelligent and numbers-driven. We like to say we work “both sides of your brain” at Barret. That is why we spend so much time in teaching you the data-driven and numbers based sides of banking…as well as building culture, understanding people, and emotional intelligence sides of banking. The next generation of community banking leaders will be those “holistic bankers”.
Click On Each Course to Learn More
Year 1:
The first year of our Strategic Planning path centers on identifying areas for improved long-term profitability in the bank and then, working together with other bankers, creating the plan for your own ideas.
An overview of bank technology focusing on current technology trends, online financial services, system selection methodology, and network and Internet security issues.
An introduction to the preparation and elementary analysis of financial statements, including a description of the accounting process, balance sheet and income statement preparation, and principles of small business accounting. Focus is on evaluating creditworthiness. Home study required.
A detailed examination of the psychological characteristics (e.g., attitudes, personality, and motivation) that influence the way we interact with our environment, including clients, peers, employees, and supervisors. Home study required
Objectives include understanding the meaning of and understanding how to create a “sales culture” and the factors affecting client relationships. Focuses on defining steps to developing a sales culture within a team and yourself.
An assessment of the competitive positions of your bank, and the ability to use that assessment to better position your bank for competitive advantage and increased profitability. The course is designed to be a useful problem-solving and decision-making discussion for marketing strategy and planning. Home study required.
A review of federal and state laws pertaining to consumer regulation, including Community Reinvestment Act, Truth in Lending, RESPA, Bank Secrecy Act, and Consumer Privacy.
This course is designed to help you explore a series of topics that will help develop the culture needed in order to drive success within your bank. Interactive discussions on operations leadership philosophies, strategic partnering best practices (and how to make them real), together with a review of hot topics like Enterprise Risk Management and using the “voice of the customer” to drive actions will give insight into operations management overall and a “behind the scenes” look to help you understand why every business line should care about it.
An overview of the basic financial requirements necessary to develop a working knowledge of the lending process for those that are not in the lending track within the bank. Home study required.
An overview of monetary and fiscal policies and how they impact the economic environment affecting commercial banks. Additional focus on the theory of interest rates, how they are determined, and understanding their term structure.
Year 2
An in-depth analysis of the fundamentals of commercial real estate lending, including the major risks, important underwriting variables and how to understand key issues and differences among various property types. The concepts of sponsorship, loan monitoring, appraisals, and portfolio diversification are discussed. Home study required.
This course is designed to familiarize non-lenders with many of the problems and solutions commercial lenders face. Students will rely on their previous experience and course work in order to present and understand difficult commercial credit situations.
This course examines the strategic process of “managing up,” which involves consciously collaborating with leadership to achieve optimal results for the employee, the manager, and the organization. Students explore ten essential keys to success, including the development of mutual expectations, the maintenance of professional dependability, and the importance of focusing on compatible work styles. The curriculum provides practical frameworks for navigating various managerial personalities and high-pressure situations, such as handling workplace failures and resolving professional arguments with assertiveness and tact
An examination of the responsibilities of a bank’s Asset Liability Committee in the financial management of an institution. Issues to be discussed include capital management, liquidity and funding, pricing decisions, and interest rate risk management.
A study of bank performance analysis through discussions of bank performance goals and ratios along with ratios factors and avenues for improvement. Focuses largely on using the Uniform Bank Performance Report (UBPR) and CAMEL regulatory performance ratings. Includes implementing a strategic plan to maintain or improve performance levels.
Continuing on your Strategic Planning journey here, you’ll be learning deeper insights into the numbers behind banking, what moves those needles, and how bankers set out goals to accomplish data-driven metrics.
A study of the business side of banking, including trends affecting the industry, the need to enhance shareholder value, the legal and regulatory concerns and other areas of similar importance.
Macro- and micro-economic considerations that impact critical areas of the bank, including forecasting, product pricing, and understanding the importance of the economic base. Includes Federal Reserve System, monetary policy, and fiscal policy discussion. Home study required.
An overview of the investment portfolio pertaining to your bank’s financial structure. Course focuses on buying bonds, managing the overall portfolio, and reviewing policies and risk limits. Investment strategies and performance trends are also examined.
A study of areas of management and supervision of importance to banking personnel, with emphasis on employee engagement, motivation, effective communication, counseling, and problem solving. Home study required.
Emotions drive people. People drive performance. In this session you will learn how to better read the emotions of others and acknowledge your own in a manner that allows you to approach people in a more productive manner. The session promotes self-awareness, evaluating the costs and benefits to choices and reactions, and using you emotional intelligence to be more purposeful. Remember, people are hired for their IQ, but they successful because of their EQ.
Year 3
Modern relationship banking has shifted from the branch lobby to the digital ecosystem. This course prepares seniors to lead this “New Front Line” by using AI for strategic leverage and social platforms for proactive business development. Participants will graduate with a personalized playbook for building a credible, authoritative presence that attracts both the next generation of clients and top-tier talent.
An overview introducing methods used to effectively manage the short and long-term funding needs of a financial institution, including capital planning and liquidity management strategies.
As we know by now, managing a bank is unique among for-profit ventures. It requires the ability to understand massive amounts of data and numbers but we also manage people. Having the insights necessary to relay the necessary financial metrics to your team and to your organization is a key for successful community bankers.
The Banque is a banking curriculum, in partnership with The Barret Graduate School of Banking that just happens to include an unparalleled interactive real-time model, alongside strategic planning, personnel planning and marketing exercises, with guidance from industry thought leaders.
Our sim is unique in that it is cloud-based and results are shown in real-time. No more making decisions and praying it works. You’ll know immediately!
An analysis that utilizes a self-evaluation process to develop methods of top personal performance. This course will explore the 5 components of Emotional Intelligence and their impact on the world of leadership in banking today. Stress is placed on self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, sympathy, and social skill.
An informative and entertaining discussion of the various “secrets” to managing a successful financial institution.
2026 Electives
This elective is designed to provide students a refresher in the basic “language” of banks i.e. banking financial statements, ratios, and an ROE analysis
Community banking is a strong force in our communities…but also in the political arenas. Bankers need to understand this relationship in order to thrive.
Treasury services is one of the most misunderstood and underutilized banking products we have. This elective teaches students what treasury services are and how they profit our customers.
If we’re being honest, most bankers don’t understand the payment rails nor why they’re important to a bank’s bottom line. This elective explains what the rails how, how they work, and how they benefit our banks.
In reflecting on his career in banking, Jeff identifies 5 areas that he wishes community banks would do better.
Cross Financial does an annual employee survey across multiple community banks around the country. The results are exclusive to the community banking industry and are always sought after.
Justin Muscolino: CEO Tweezzle Corp.
No matter the situation, we are always in need of mastering those soft skills in order to communicate.
We’ll use real data and real situations to show students just what happens when a bank goes under for various reasons.
Have you ever wondered “what does my CEO really do?” This panel discussion with 3 highly respected banking CEO’s will go into what is involved for a community banking CEO. Hear their stories and get new insights into the top spot.
Plus...our quarterly Roundtables covering Ag Lending, Marketing, HR/Employee Engagement, Compliance, Innovation, and Senior Lending topics all throughout the year.
Ready to take your banking career to the next level?
Barret School of Banking is endorsed by:
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)
The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation’s voice for more than 6,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. Visit website
Community Banker University
Community Banker University® (powered by ICBA) is a modernized educational platform that provides community bankers with premier and industry-specific professional development and educational opportunities for all stages of their careers. Visit website
Arkansas Community Bankers
The Arkansas Community Bankers Association is committed to preserving and promoting community banks, their franchise values and the communities they serve. Visit website
Arkansas Bankers Association
The Arkansas Bankers Association will promote the banking industry, function as the government relations liaison, offer educational opportunities and promote services to its membership. Visit website
Community Bankers Association of Georgia
The mission of the CBA is to promote the preservation and continued development of locally, independently-owned community banks in Georgia and the philosophy of hometown banking through unified efforts of its membership and staff. Visit website
Indiana Bankers Association
Our mission is to advocate for and sustain an environment in which banks can succeed. Visit website
Community Bankers Association of Kansas
Collectively creating value for Kansas community banks through advocacy, education, and services for the benefit of their customers and the communities they serve. Visit website
Missouri Independent Bankers Association
The Missouri Independent Bankers Association is an organization of small and medium-sized banks, locally owned, operated and dedicated to meeting the financial needs of their communities. Visit website
Community Bankers Association of Ohio
Community Bankers Association of Ohio is organized to establish and maintain an informed network of independent community banks in the state of Ohio that will have the influence and commitment to effectively serve, protect and promote the interests of its members. Visit website
Community Bankers Association of West Virginia
Our mission is to represent the interests of banks in West Virginia. Visit website
ICBA Securities
We provide community bankers with quality investment products, services and education at competitive prices.
Visit website
Affiliated Organizations:
Christian Brothers University (CBU) www.cbu.edu
The Barret School of Banking offices are located on campus. CBU offers baccalaureate programs and specialized graduate programs. Barret School of Banking graduates are eligible for six hours of graduate credit upon admission to the MBA program at CBU.
ICBA Securities https://www.icba.org/icba-securities
ICBA Securities Corporation is a service of the ICBA Services Network®, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICBA. Through our exclusively endorsed broker Stifel we provide community bankers with quality investment products, services and education at competitive prices.
Sawyers & Jacobs LLC www.sawyersjacobs.com
.Leaders in innovation, risk management, cybersecurity, and technology, with a mission of “Making Banks Better”.
Gerrish Smith Tuck www.gerrish.com
Gerrish Smith Tuck LLC and Gerrish Smith Tuck, PC, Attorneys offer business consulting, financial advisory and legal services to community banks and thrifts nationwide.
Reynolds Bone & Griesbeck www.rbgcpa.com
Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck specializes in accounting, tax and advisory services for financial institutions.
National Registry of CPE Sponsors www.nasba.org
Barret School of Banking is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.
DD & F Consulting Group www.ddfconsulting.com
DD&F Consulting Group provides comprehensive bank consulting services to the financial services industry nationwide.
PerformancePoint, LLC https://www.performancepointllc.com/
What originated as an idea to simply provide more uniquely relevant human resources and talent management solutions has blossomed into a proven organization with a strong track record. Our emphasis is squarely on amplifying brands by leveraging culture, customer and associate relationships.
Holtmeyer & Monson www.holtandmon.com
We cover every stage involved in SBA Lending— from loan packaging and closing, to securitization and sale, through portfolio servicing.
In-Synk Consulting www.in-synk.com
We bring business leaders the clear perspective and proven tools they need to successfully align strategies, actions and goals.
Risk Management Association (RMA) – Memphis Chapter www.rmahq.org/memphis
RMA is a not-for-profit, member-driven professional association, whose sole purpose is to advance the use of sound risk principles in the financial services industry.
Arkansas State University – MBA Program www.astate.edu
Barret School of Banking graduates are eligible for six hours of graduate credit upon admission to the MBA program at Arkansas State.
High Performance Teams https://highperformanceteams.net/
High Performance Teams is a sales, marketing and management resource company that focuses on providing your company with management, consulting and training resources that will help you build a high performance team.
The Kafafian Group https://kafafiangroup.com/
We’re passionate about helping community financial institutions become more efficient and more profitable. We help you solve challenges and take advantage of opportunities in a rapidly changing industry and economic environment.
Social Assurance https://socialassurance.com/
Founded in 2011, Social Assurance provides the financial services industry with a suite of software solutions, services, and storytelling tools that help build Remarkable financial brands, cultures, and communities. With a mission to Empower, Ignite and Enable financial brands to be Remarkable, Social Assurance now serves over 1,500 financial brands across the country, helping them leave their mark and be the heroes of their community.