Helping a French corporate and investment bank build practical ISO 20022 expertise through training

This French corporate and investment bank has strong expertise in investment banking, asset management and insurance. With operations across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, they play an active role in the ongoing transformation of payments.

Given their need for a detailed understanding of payment message structures, with a clear focus on ISO 20022 elements and SWIFT and TARGET2 MX messages, they contacted Projective Academy for an ‘ISO 20022 and CBPR+’ training. The objective was straightforward: enable their teams to better understand how these messages are built and how they function in practice.

Combining depth with practical application

The client was looking for a training partner with specific expertise in Payments, particularly around message elements and practical usage. Their main need was not broad theory, but a clear and structured understanding of ISO 20022 messages, including:

• How key messages are structured
• What mandatory elements contain
• How messages interact within payment flows
• How this translates into daily operational work

At the same time, they wanted a practical learning experience that would make these concepts tangible for participants with different roles and levels of exposure.

Our approach

We delivered a two-day training programme that is built around their specific needs and business context. The training largely followed our standard structure, with targeted adjustments to reflect the bank’s environment, including additional message types and examples relevant to their activities.

Day one: building understanding

We started with the fundamentals of ISO 20022:

• The purpose and business drivers behind the standard
• Key benefits for financial institutions
• A clear comparison between MT and MX messages

This helped participants build a solid foundation and understand the shift from both a business and operational perspective.

A key part of the day focused on sources of information. We introduced participants to the tools and references they can use after the training, ensuring they know where to go to find answers and stay up to date as standards evolve.

Day two: deep dive through practice

The second day focused on detailed message analysis and, importantly, hands-on application. We first aligned participants on payment flows and message lifecycles, ensuring a common understanding across different roles.

We then explored key ISO 20022 messages, including:

• PACS messages such as pacs.008, pacs.002, pacs.004 and pacs.009
• Cash management messages such as camt.052, camt.053 and camt.054
• Payment initiation messages such as pain.001 and pain.002

For each message type, we covered structure, mandatory elements and real use cases.

What made the difference was the strong emphasis on practical exercises. Participants worked directly with the messages by completing and analysing them field by field. This helped them understand:

• Where each element comes from
• Why it exists
• How it affects message processing and downstream flows

These exercises brought the theory to life and made the learning immediately applicable.

Impact

The training delivered clear and tangible outcomes. Participants developed:

• A strong understanding of ISO 20022 message elements
• The ability to read, interpret and construct key MX messages
• Greater confidence in applying this knowledge in their daily work

Two elements were particularly valued:

• Hands-on practical exercises, which made complex structures easy to understand
• Reliable sources of information, enabling participants to continue learning independently after the training

In addition, the training provided clear visibility on SWIFT CBPR+ release cycles and upcoming deadlines, helping teams understand what lies ahead and how to prepare. This impact was reflected in the feedback, with the training achieving an average score of 9.7 out of 10. Participants highlighted the clarity of the explanations, the structured approach and the strong focus on practical application.

Preparing for what comes next

Beyond immediate learning, the training helped the bank look ahead. Participants gained insight into:

• Annual SWIFT CBPR+ releases (Standards Releases)
• Migration timelines stretching across 2026, 2027 and beyond
• Evolving requirements around exceptions and investigations
• The growing importance of case management

This confirms the strategy at the bank to embrace innovation and to stay ahead of regulatory and operational changes while continuing to deliver high-quality service to their clients.

Building capability that lasts

This engagement shows how targeted training can make complex topics such as ISO 20022 accessible and practical. By combining structured content, hands-on exercises and concrete examples, we help teams build confidence and capability that lasts beyond the classroom.

This engagement shows how targeted training can make complex topics such as ISO 20022 accessible and practical.

If your organisation is navigating ISO 20022 or CBPR+, we are happy to explore how a tailored training approach can support your teams.

About Projective Academy

Projective Academy is the dedicated Learning & Development hub of Projective Group, designed to equip financial services professionals with the skills, insights, and confidence to thrive in a complex and evolving industry.

We offer hands-on training experiences built around real-world business challenges. Whether supporting early-career talent or accelerating senior profiles, our programmes and courses blend deep industry knowledge with practical application. Projective Academy gives professionals the knowledge and skills they need to grow, adapt, and lead meaningful change across the financial sector.