A groundbreaking educational partnership between the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) and The University of the West Indies (UWI) has opened new career advancement doors for banking workers across the Caribbean, with the launch of a targeted scholarship programme that covers university degree costs for eligible sector employees.
The 2026 CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme is specifically designed to support qualifying staff at CAB member institutions who are pursuing a part-time Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance. According to a joint official statement released by the two organizations, the three-year academic programme will be delivered on a part-time basis, with the next cohort of students set to begin their studies in January 2027.
The core mission of this initiative is to empower Caribbean banking and financial services employees to deepen their professional expertise, upgrade their formal qualifications, and accelerate long-term career growth within the regional industry. To be considered for the award, applicants must currently hold a position at a CAB member institution and submit a complete online application package that includes several required supporting documents: a filled-out official CAB Scholarship Application Form, a professional letter of recommendation from their current employer, a signed employer agreement accepting responsibility for reimbursing scholarship funds if programme conditions are not met, and an up-to-date curriculum vitae.
Disbursement of scholarship funds will be handled directly between CAB and UWI, with payments issued on a semester-by-semester basis. Continued financial support each semester is not guaranteed: it is contingent on both the recipient maintaining satisfactory academic progress and remaining employed at a CAB member institution. To secure funding for an upcoming semester, scholars must present an official academic transcript or completion certificate proving they passed all courses from the previous semester, and their employer must provide written confirmation of their ongoing employment before the new semester begins.
Additional ongoing requirements for scholarship recipients include maintaining continuous part-time enrollment throughout the full duration of the degree programme, and holding a minimum semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Recipients are also required to take part in CAB’s two-year Future Leaders Programme, which includes responsibilities such as contributing to industry-focused research projects and delivering presentations at the annual CAB Conference.
All awards are bound by CAB’s formal terms and conditions, and each recipient’s eligibility is reviewed at the end of every semester. Funding will be immediately withdrawn if a scholar leaves their position at a CAB member institution before completing the degree. Furthermore, after graduating from the programme, recipients are contractually required to remain employed at a CAB member institution for a period equal to the total length of time they received scholarship support.
CAB has actively called on all its member organizations to proactively identify high-potential employees and support their applications to the programme. The initiative forms part of the regional banking body’s broader strategy to cultivate a skilled, diverse next generation of leadership for the Caribbean’s banking and financial services sector. Prospective applicants can access the application portal online, and additional details about the programme are available directly from the CAB Secretariat.