Our name has changed, our commitment hasn't
Since 1879, our institution has prepared professionals for careers in finance, business, and technology. Over the years, our name has evolved to reflect our growth – most recently as The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF).
Today, we are Walbrook Institute London. This name better represents the breadth of our education while honouring our long-standing connection to the City of London and financial expertise.
If you studied with us under a previous name, your qualifications remain valid and respected. This page explains what our name change means for you.
What our new name means for your qualification
If you hold a degree or a qualification from LIBF – or any of our previous names – it remains fully recognised by employers, professional bodies, and universities.
Your certificate, transcripts, and academic records remain valid. You do not need to take any action – your degree or qualification is still backed by the same institution.
If an employer or university queries your qualification, you can direct them to this page or contact us for verification.
Here's how our name has changed over time:
2025: Walbrook Institute London
2016: The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)
2013: ifs University College
1997: The Institute of Financial Services (IFS)
1987: The Chartered Institute of Bankers
1879: The Institute of Bankers
Why Walbrook Institute London?
We chose the name Walbrook Institute London to reflect our continued evolution beyond finance into business, technology, and digital innovation, while staying rooted in our historic financial expertise.
The name is inspired by the Walbrook River, which once flowed through the heart of London’s financial district. Like this hidden waterway that helped shape the city’s commercial success, our institution has long supported professionals in shaping the future of their industries.
While our name has changed, our focus remains the same: career-ready education, flexible learning, and global recognition.
LIBF Professional Qualifications to continue
While our institution is now Walbrook Institute London, we will continue to use the LIBF name for our professional financial qualifications and membership services. This means:
If you earned a banking or finance qualification under LIBF, it is still recognised.
Future students pursuing finance-related professional qualifications will see the LIBF name on their certificates.
This allows us to maintain our well-respected banking and finance credentials while expanding into new areas of education.
For Alumni: how to reference your degree
Your degree remains fully recognised and valid, regardless of when you studied with us. However, because our institution changed its name in April 2025, how you reference your qualification depends on when you enrolled on your course.
Enrolled before 2 April 2025:
BSc (Hons) Banking and Finance, LIBF (now Walbrook Institute London)
Enrolled from 2 April 2025 onwards:
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Walbrook Institute London
Your academic records remain unchanged, and we continue to offer transcript verification for employers and institutions.
Before becoming Walbrook Institute London, we awarded degrees under the names:
LIBF
The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)
ifs University College
The Institute of Financial Services (IFS)
Some students will continue to graduate with LIBF degree certificates through 2025, 2026, and potentially 2027 – for example, those who took a year in industry.
All degrees awarded under our previous institution names remain fully recognised, and alumni can continue to list them on their CVs and professional profiles.
Here are some of the degrees that have been or are still being awarded under the LIBF name:
BSc (Hons) Banking and Finance
BSc (Hons) Finance, Investment and Risk
BSc (Hons) Sustainable Finance
How we've made employers aware of our name change
We understand that some alumni may need to explain the name change to employers or universities. To ensure recognition:
We have publicly announced the change through a media release and social media.
We have contacted employers we work with directly to inform them of the transition.
Our website will have content and redirects in place so visitors searching for LIBF will still find us.
We are keeping the LIBF name for professional banking and finance qualifications, so it will continue to appear in the industry.
Staying connected with us on social media
We have updated our LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media profiles to Walbrook Institute London. If you already follow us, your connection to us will remain.
However, if you want to tag us in a post, you will need to search for "Walbrook Institute London" or "Walbrook" instead of LIBF.
To ensure a smooth transition:
We have included clear wording in our social media bios to confirm that Walbrook Institute London was previously LIBF.
LIBF will still be used for professional financial education content and membership services, so you may continue seeing the name in certain posts.
Learn more About Walbrook Institute London
Our name has changed, but our history, values, and future direction remain the same.
About us
Find out more about Walbrook Institute London, our vision, and what we stand for today.
About Walbrook
Our heritage
Discover our history, from our founding in 1879 to our evolution into a global provider of career-focused education.
Our history and heritage