The masters-level course will also include the chartered banker diploma on completion.

The course will initially be delivered to the bank’s employees and the business school will offer the degree as part of its wider educational portfolio from next year.

Over 30 members of staff from across the bank – including digital, products and finance teams – will become the first cohort to undertake the two-year, part-time degree.

The course will provide students with training in concepts and theories covering areas such as retail and digital banking, product management, financial markets and industry disruption. 

This is the bank’s second bespoke programme and it has already recruited around 70 entry-level apprentices on to its cashier programme this year.

Danny Harmer, chief people officer at Metro Bank, said that investing in its staff and enabling them to be the best they could be was central to how it operated.

“At Metro Bank, we’re in a highly enviable position: redefining and disrupting retail banking. 

“By partnering with a renowned organisation such as Cranfield School of Management, we’re able to combine our experience and expertise to provide students with the knowledge and confidence they need to shake up banking.”

The bank plans to launch additional apprenticeships for its employees in operations, and commercial and relationship management.

Professor Catarina Figueira at Cranfield School of Management added: “Accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute, this programme combines the best of academic insight and industry application so that learners can achieve and maintain standards of excellence, professionalism and ethical conduct by applying their knowledge and testing their skills in the workplace, almost immediately.  

“It’s a very exciting initiative, which has provided Cranfield with the opportunity to collaborate with Metro Bank, a thriving financial institution which clearly understands what the market demands and is growing at a fast pace.”