Florence School of Banking & Finance

What Florence School of Banking & Finance does

The Florence School of Banking and Finance (FBF), founded in 2016, is an executive-education, research and policy-dialogue programme hosted within the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute (EUI) and based at Villa Raimondi in Florence, Italy. It serves a narrow, government-anchored client base: central bankers from the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), supervisors in the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), staff of the European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, ESMA, EIOPA), and other regulators and financial-stability professionals. Its operating model combines residential and blended-format training courses (e.g., the Bank Resolution Academy, Digital Currencies Academy, Macroprudential Policy Implementation Academy), long-duration partnership programmes (the ECB-SSM Partnership 2022-2026, the EU-SDFA digital-finance academy 2022-2028, and the CBBS executive-education programme 2023-2026), a Banking Supervision Policy Working Paper Series, and recurring policy-dialogue events.

The school does not develop proprietary technology products; its 'platform' is academic faculty, practitioner instructors, and institutional convening capacity. Revenue mechanics mix tiered per-course fees for individual participants (€950 for academics, €855 early-bird, up to €2,300 for private-sector participants, with 10% early-bird and 15% group discounts) with multi-year institutional funding from the European Union (Erasmus/EACEA backing), the European Commission (DG Reform via the Technical Support Instrument), the European Central Bank, and the EUI. GTM is event-driven and institution-driven: it sells into central banks and supervisory authorities through partnerships rather than transactional demand generation, and it markets through a research blog, the Banking Supervision Policy Working Paper Series, an email newsletter, and active channels on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Bluesky. Notable metrics include an average of ~43 participants per course, ~39 new organisations per training cycle, 18 new attendee countries during 2020-2021, an 85.4% average appreciation rating, and approximately 150 participants at the 10th-anniversary conference in 2026; the institution is led by Director Thorsten Beck and Deputy Director Pierre Schlosser and reports a headcount of 51-100.

Name

Florence School of Banking & Finance

Legal name

Florence School of Banking and Finance

Website

https://fbf.eui.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Florence School of Banking and Finance, founded in 2016 within the European University Institute's Robert Schuman Centre, delivers executive education, applied research, and policy dialogue on banking supervision and financial stability to central bankers, SSM supervisors, and EU regulatory authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education and Financial Sector Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAALAJ

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDAHAHAA

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDABAJAH

Banking, Credit & Lending (Underwriting, Credit Risk)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Finance, Accounting & Risk Training

SECONDARYFSAEAAAF

Education Funding Planning (College/529)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

Keywords

• Executive education programmes
• Banking supervision training
• Central banking courses
• Financial stability research
• Policy dialogue forums

Headquarters

HQ city

Firenze

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Education Course Fees: The school generates revenue through course fees for its executive education programmes, with tiered pricing for academics, public sector, and private sector participants. Fees range from €950 for academics to €2,300 for private sector participants per course.
2. European Union Funding: The school receives funding from the European Union, as indicated by the Erasmus logo and the statement 'Funded by the European Union' on the website. This provides institutional support for operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Florence School of Banking & Finance delivers executive education training courses, applied research, and policy dialogue programmes for central bankers, banking supervisors, and financial stability professionals. Its portfolio includes named residential and blended courses (e.g., Bank Resolution Academy, Digital Currencies Academy, Macroprudential Policy Implementation Academy), multi-year initiatives such as the CBBS Executive Education Programme and EU-SDFA, and the Banking Supervision Policy Working Paper Series. The school is embedded within the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute in Florence.

Product overview

The Florence School of Banking and Finance is an executive education, research, and policy dialogue programme within the Robert Schuman Centre at the European University Institute. Its portfolio includes professional training courses (such as the Bank Resolution Academy, Digital Currencies Academy, and Macroprudential Policy Implementation Academy), long-term initiatives (EU-SDFA, ECB-SSM Partnership, and CBBS Programme), the Banking Supervision Policy Working Paper Series for academic publications, and policy dialogue activities. The school focuses on banking supervision, financial stability, sustainable finance, digital finance, and European regulatory policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 participants per course average, 85.4% average overall appreciation rating across training courses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Central Bank (ECB) - Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) Partnership - Central Banking and Banking Supervision (CBBS) ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The CBBS Executive Education Programme is jointly delivered by the Florence School of Banking and Finance and the Florence School of Transnational Governance (STG). The programme equips ESCB and SSM professionals with knowledge, networks, and perspectives to navigate an increasingly uncertain future.
• European Central Bank (ECB) - Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The SSM-EUI partnership focuses on promoting policy discussion and research on banking supervision through the Banking Supervision Policy Working Paper Series and associated events held at ECB headquarters. The partnership aims to deepen the involvement of the SSM community in academic debates.
• European University Institute (EUI) - Robert Schuman CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Florence School of Banking and Finance is a programme of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute, providing institutional hosting and academic framework.
• European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, ESMA, EIOPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EU Supervisory Digital Finance Academy (EU-SDFA) was established in cooperation with the three European Supervisory Authorities to support financial supervisory authorities in coping with risks and opportunities associated with advanced technologies in the financial sector.
• European Commission - DG ReformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Commission (DG Reform) has established the EU Supervisory Digital Finance Academy (EU-SDFA) in cooperation with European Supervisory Authorities and the Florence School of Banking and Finance, as a TSI flagship initiative.
• Portuguese AuthoritiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Florence School of Banking and Finance is working with Portuguese authorities to evaluate and enhance national financial literacy programmes.
• European System of Central Banks (ESCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school delivers the Central Banking and Banking Supervision (CBBS) Executive Education Programme for ESCB professionals, addressing challenges including geopolitical tensions, climate risks, and digital transformation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: German not-for-profit business school delivering executive education, certified programmes and research in banking, sustainable finance and risk management. Directly comparable: both are specialist finance schools serving central bankers, supervisors and financial professionals with tiered course fees and ECB/regulatory community links.
• Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE: Frankfurt-based academic research centre on household finance, banking regulation and capital markets with policy outreach to the ECB and European institutions. Comparable as a policy-oriented research and convening body serving the European regulatory community, particularly via its Frankfurt proximity to the ECB.
• Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR): European network of academic researchers producing policy-oriented research and hosting convenings across central banking, supervision and financial stability. Comparable on the academic-policy bridge and European regulatory audience, though focused more on research dissemination than formal executive education.
• European Banking Institute (EBI): Brussels-based international consortium delivering research, training and conferences on EU banking and finance law and regulation. Comparable as a niche European provider of supervisory and regulatory training targeted at central bankers, supervisors and legal practitioners.

Broad incumbents

• INSEAD: Global business school with significant executive education programmes in banking, finance and risk, including the INSEAD Global Banking Programme. Comparable as a premium-tier provider of executive finance training to senior banking and supervisory professionals, though far broader in scope than FBF.
• London Business School: Major UK business school offering executive education in banking, asset management and risk. Competes for the same senior European banking audience with broader programme portfolios and premium pricing.
• Said Business School (University of Oxford): Offers executive programmes in finance and regulation with strong policy and central-bank adjacency. Comparable on the academic–policy blend, though operates as a broad generalist with deeper pockets.

Others

• Bank for International Settlements (BIS) - Financial Stability Institute: BIS hub for central-bank training and policy analysis with global reach. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — FSI is the dominant global counterpart, but FBF's EU-specific regulatory focus and executive-education format differentiate it as a complementary European layer.
• IMF - Institute for Capacity Development: Provides macro-financial and supervisory training to central-bank and finance-ministry officials worldwide. Comparable on training for central bankers and supervisors, though IMF focus is broader (macro, fiscal) and globally rather than EU-tailored.

Regional players

• Hertie School (Jacques Delors Centre): Berlin-based public policy school with a Jacques Delors Centre focused on EU economic governance, banking union and financial regulation. Comparable in mission (academic–policy bridge for European financial integration), operating in a different national market but overlapping audience and topics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/EUI_FBF_School
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWAJyTDDzIOCgLJMY7w-9yg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/11083728/admin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Florence School of Banking & Finance