Banking Environment

A compulsory course of the first semester of the Master’s Programme “Banking-Insurance and Finance”.

Course details

Code: MBAF03
Semester: 1st
Credits: 5 ECTS
Teaching hours: 2 per week (lectures and practical exercises)
Course type: Specialisation Course (ME)
Prerequisites: none
Language of teaching and examinations: Greek and/or English
Offered to Erasmus students: yes, upon relevant request
Mode of delivery: distance learning, synchronous and asynchronous
Total workload: 150 hours
Taught by: Symeon Karafolas

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the student will acquire knowledge and skills allowing:

An understanding of the banking economy
Knowledge of the operations of the various forms of banking institution
An understanding and evaluation of a bank balance sheet
Knowledge of the constraints and incentives in decision-making in the banking sector
The role of interest rates and the formation of banking costs
The development of the banking system in Greece
The role of the crisis in the banking system and its connection with the crisis

Syllabus

The theory of money, the supply of and demand for money
The conversion of savings into loan capital and the role of the financial system as intermediary between surplus and deficit units
The role of interest rates
Banking theory and presentation of the bank
Banking networks
Retail banking
Specialised banking operations and specialised banking institutions
International banking
The development of the Greek banking market
The development of the legislative framework in Greece
The period of the crisis: effects on the banking sector, on financing and on deposits
Prospects
Bank failure and regulation: an introduction

The syllabus may be adjusted according to the needs of the course.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out in two ways: the preparation of assignments, counting for up to 30% of the total mark — the structure and presentation of the text, the quality of the analysis and the bibliographical references are taken into account above all — and a written final examination, counting for 70%. Language of assessment: Greek.