Historical Archive

History of the CISI

The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment is a global professional body for those working in the financial and investment industry. Discover its journey from its origins at the London Stock Exchange. For a broader encyclopedic overview, view the Grokipedia CISI entry.

Founded

1992

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Global Reach

80+ countries

1992

Founded as the Securities Institute by members of the London Stock Exchange.

Initial purpose was to provide training and qualifications for exchange practitioners.

2004 November

Rebranded as the Securities and Investment Institute (SII).

Reflected a broadening scope beyond securities into wider investment sectors.

2009 October

Granted a Royal Charter by HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Recognized with a Royal Charter, establishing the modern CISI brand.

2010 March

Granted a Patent of Arms.

Formal recognition of the Institute's professional standing and heritage.

2015 November

Merged with the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP).

Established financial planning as a core global pillar for the organization.

2017

Co-founded the Chartered Body Alliance.

Partnered with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland.

2018 October

IntegrityMatters reaches 60,000 users.

A major milestone for the Institute's flagship ethical training module, emphasizing ethics in finance.

2019

Launched dedicated mental health portal.

Provided vital resources for stress and well-being within the financial services sector.

2021 January

Launched global remote invigilation exams & Mobile App.

Accelerated digital transformation by enabling remote testing and releasing the official MyCISI app.

2022 February

Celebrated 30th Anniversary.

Marked three decades of growth, expanding to 45,000 members across more than 100 countries.

2024 July

Launched AI Ethics & Learning Programme.

Introduced specialized training to help financial services navigate artificial intelligence with transparency and ethics.

2025 April

Significant Membership Growth.

CISI recorded a 28% growth in membership, reflecting its expanding global influence and the success of its digital initiatives.

2026

Expanded Sustainable Finance & Digital Offerings.

Continued global expansion with enhanced qualifications in Green and Sustainable Finance and a modernized MyCISI platform.

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