The Jamaica Institute of Bankers (JIOB) was established in 1977, by the Bank of Jamaica and the Commercial Banks. The main objective of the Institute is to satisfy the training and educational needs of the financial services industry. In this regard, the Institute has partnered with globally recognized organizations to provide premium training in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. This includes MBA programmes from the Manchester Business School, ranked 22 nd in the world (Financial Times UK 2006). JIOB facilitates this programme throughout the Caribbean. In addition, the Institute offers short courses and seminars to its members and clients.

From a regional perspective, in 1997, the Institute formalized its relationship with other regional Banking Institutes with the inauguration of the Caribbean Association of Banking and Finance Institutes (CABFI). The Memorandum of Understanding for the Association was signed in May 1998. The primary objective of CABFI is to strengthen regional co-operation in the development, marketing and delivery of training and educational programmes relevant to the region's banking and financial needs.

The Institute is registered by the University Council of Jamaica as a tertiary educational institution.