The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University (SMU) has released details on its 66th Annual Session, scheduled for May 30–June 9, 2023, in Dallas. Commercial loan officers, branch managers, credit analysts, cashiers, mortgage lenders, consumer lenders, operations officers, state and federal regulators and other banking professionals gather each summer on the campus of SMU for a nine-day leadership development program designed to propel careers in the financial services industry. SWGSB prepares future leaders in the banking community for greater responsibilities with peer networking, team-building experiences, case studies, a tailored curriculum and an impressive student/faculty ratio.
—F. Scott Dueser, president and CEO, First Financial Bankshares Inc.
The month before the 66th session, SWGSB will present a short series of online courses, both live-streamed and pre-recorded. Completion of pre-session assignments and online courses is required. When the on-campus session commences, all classes will be in-person.
The program is divided into three levels of curriculum. The first session is focused on problem-solving skills. The indispensable tools needed to measure performance, evaluate risk and manage the organization are emphasized. The first resident session lays the foundation for the overall program.
During the second session, the emphasis is on management and leadership of various functions, departments, products and the overall bank. In addition, the curriculum focuses on the macro environment and the impact this has on the industry and the future of your organization. Students begin to tailor the program with their choice of career-enhancing electives.
The final session focuses on mastering strategic planning and visioning skills and cumulates in building a strategic outline in a Living Case Study. Faculty members guide participants to the development of strategic solutions to problems and issues facing the industry.
BankCEO is incorporated into the junior and senior sessions. BankCEO is SWGSB’s unique bank simulation technology designed specifically to provide students with real-world experience. With interactive screens, test runs, instant results and displays that compare teams using various criteria and statistics, BankCEO is a one-of-a-kind experience. This teaching model distills years of bank management down to a series of well-focused decisions and applications. Our online, web-based adaptation is only offered at SWGSB and revolutionizes the bank simulation, further allowing participants to interact and learn from peers.
Students will also participate in SWGSB’s Living Case Study. Each year, SWGSB develops a new living case study, examining another bank and its most creative ideas. Students have a rare opportunity to analyze and study a real-world bank, propose changes and interact with its top management. The Living Case Study brings to life what other schools teach just on paper.