Integrity is at the very core of everything we do

We believe that integrity is a key component of professionalism, defined as the effective combination of knowledge, skills and behaviour. In each of these areas the CISI has developed products and services where the highest standards of integrity are embedded and regularly tested.

Integrity & Ethics

The events of the past few years provide a reminder of the importance of individuals and firms acting and demonstrating their honesty, openness, transparency and fairness in all their business activities.

Poor actions by single individuals can result in great costs to firms, both financially and through loss of reputation. Fostering an environment of trust, integrity and professionalism leads to greater confidence, ultimately strengthening a firm’s reputation in the market.

We believe that Integrity Matters. That is why we always strive to raise professional standards in financial services, and we know that our Corporate Supporters and members overwhelmingly support our drive for higher standards. Our aim is for the CISI to be the professional body of choice for practitioners in financial services and for Institute membership to be the recognised hallmark of professionalism.

View our full IntegrityMatters product suite

Knowledge

CISI Qualifications

Wholesale/capital markets practitioners must pass IntegrityMatters prior to taking their CISI Capital Markets Programme exam - Securities, Derivatives, Financial Derivatives or Commodity Derivatives.

We introduced this initiative to ensure that exam candidates in the capital markets sector in the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America, who will be working directly with firms and clients, realise the importance of acting with integrity at all times and placing integrity before, and above, profitability.

The CISI believes that the standard of integrity in the wholesale/capital markets sector needs to be at least equal to that of the retail sector. This will also provide the public with some tangible evidence which demonstrates that banks and other financial organisations really are changing their culture.

There are specific questions within other CISI qualifications focusing on integrity and ethics.

Behaviour

CISI Code of Conduct

Professionals within financial services owe important duties to their clients, the market, the professional sector and society. Where these duties are set out in law or regulation the professional should comply with the requirements in both letter and spirit.

Members of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) are also required to meet the standards set out within the CISI’s eight Principles, which impose an obligation on members to act at all times not only in compliance with the rules, but also to support the underlying values of the Institute.

View the code of conduct

Skills

CISI Membership

The CISI is committed to championing the highest standards of ethical behaviour and practice among our individual members and Corporate Supporters. We encourage members and supporters to adopt our Code of Conduct which is also known as the Lord George Principles and is shared with the Worshipful Company of International Bankers.

All applicants for CISI membership are required to pass IntegrityMatters before being admitted as a CISI member, and all existing members have been required to pass either IntegrityMatters or the CISI Integrity & Ethics Professional Refresher unit.

We require our Chartered members to take IntegrityMatters and pass. Chartered membership demonstrates personal commitment to continuing learning and high standards of integrity and ethical behaviour.

Members are encouraged to retake IntegrityMatters at least once every five years, and must log integrity and ethics CPD every year (1 to 3.5 hours annually, depending on level of membership).