100+ Free FA Retail Banking Practice Questions

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Sample FA Retail Banking Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FA Retail Banking exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Banking Control Law, what is the default statutory deposit every bank must maintain with SAMA relative to its deposit liabilities?

A.Not less than 15% of deposit liabilities

B.Not less than 5% of deposit liabilities

C.Exactly 20% of risk-weighted assets

D.Not less than 25% of paid-up capital

Explanation: Article 7 requires every bank to maintain with SAMA at all times a statutory deposit of not less than 15% of its deposit liabilities (SAMA may vary the rate within statutory bands).

2Besides the statutory deposit, what additional liquidity reserve must banks maintain under the Banking Control Law?

A.A liquidity reserve equal to 100% of demand deposits only

B.A liquidity reserve of not less than 15% of deposit liabilities in cash, gold, or assets convertible to cash within 30 days

C.A liquidity reserve held only in foreign currency

D.No liquidity reserve is required if the statutory deposit is met

Explanation: In addition to the statutory deposit, banks must maintain a liquidity reserve of not less than 15% of deposit liabilities in cash, gold, or assets convertible into cash within 30 days; SAMA may raise this up to 20%.

3Under Article 8 of the Banking Control Law, what is the general single-obligor credit limit before SAMA may grant an exception?

A.10% of the bank’s paid-up capital only

B.50% of total assets

C.25% of the bank’s reserves and paid-up or invested capital

D.75% of deposit liabilities

Explanation: No bank shall grant loans, credit facilities, or financial guarantees to any natural or juristic person aggregating more than 25% of the bank’s reserves and paid-up or invested capital; SAMA may raise this to 50% in the public interest.

4What is the maximum multiple of reserves and paid-up or invested capital that a bank’s deposit liabilities may reach under Article 6?

A.Five times

B.Ten times

C.Twenty times

D.Fifteen times

Explanation: Deposit liabilities shall not exceed fifteen times the bank’s reserves and paid-up or invested capital; excess triggers capital increase or depositing half the excess with SAMA.

5Which institution is the primary supervisor and regulator of banks operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

A.The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)

B.The Capital Market Authority alone

C.The Ministry of Commerce exclusively

D.Municipal chambers of commerce

Explanation: SAMA (Saudi Central Bank) licenses, supervises, and regulates banks and sets monetary and prudential rules under the Central Bank Law and Banking Control Law.

6Which activity is SAMA prohibited from undertaking under the Saudi Central Bank Law (illustrative prohibition)?

A.Issuing rules for payment systems

B.Financing or lending to any natural or legal person (except as allowed for its own subsidiaries under Board rules)

C.Managing foreign-exchange reserves

D.Protecting customers of financial institutions

Explanation: Article 4 prohibitions include financing or lending to natural or legal persons, subject to narrow exceptions for SAMA affiliates under Board rules—SAMA is not a commercial lender to the public.

7How are Islamic windows typically described in the retail-banking structure curriculum?

A.Fully independent banks with separate capital from the parent

B.Unregulated marketing brands with no governance

C.Specialized, non-independent sections within conventional banks offering Sharia-compliant products under Sharia Committee oversight

D.Branches that may only offer foreign-currency deposits

Explanation: Islamic windows are specialized, non-independent units inside conventional banks that offer Sharia-compliant products under the governance of a Sharia Committee.

8Digital-only bank applicants in KSA are expected to submit which capital/liquidity planning documents as part of licensing assessment?

A.Only a marketing brochure

B.Only a branch-network footprint study

C.A verbal assurance from shareholders with no written plan

D.An Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Plan (ICAAP) and liquidity assessment appropriate to scale and complexity

Explanation: Digital-bank licensing guidance expects ICAAP and liquidity assessments so SAMA can judge capital adequacy case-by-case given the applicant’s scale, nature, and complexity.

9What does the SARIE system primarily provide in the Saudi banking sector?

A.Interbank settlement and clearing for payments in Saudi riyals

B.Only ATM cash withdrawals

C.Equity trading on Tadawul

D.Insurance claims processing

Explanation: SARIE (Saudi Arabian Riyal Interbank Express) is the interbank payment and settlement system for riyal transfers among banks.

10What is the main retail payment brand/network supporting ATMs and POS in Saudi Arabia referenced in the curriculum?

A.SWIFT alone

B.mada (Saudi Payments network)

C.VisaNet exclusively

D.Fedwire

Explanation: mada (Saudi Payments) supports ATM and POS acceptance and is central to domestic card payments alongside Saudi Payments infrastructure.

About the FA Retail Banking Exam

The Retail Banking Foundations Professional Exam is a SAMA-mandatory Financial Academy assessment ensuring targeted banking employees hold minimum knowledge of Saudi retail banking products, responsible financing, Islamic banking, customer protection, compliance, fraud and AML/CTF.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice questions across 10 official FA curriculum chapters (weights 8/25/6/11/7/11/4/7/8/13).

Time Limit

120 minutes.

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

SAR 1,000 through the Financial Academy. (Financial Academy under Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) mandatory professional-certificate requirements)

FA Retail Banking Exam Content Outline

Retail Banking Structure

KSA banking sector structure and SAMA role.

25%

Products and Services

Retail banking products including cards and consumer/real-estate finance.

Responsible Financing

Responsible lending and affordability themes.

11%

Islamic Retail Banking

Shariah principles and Islamic retail modes.

Customer Service

Effective customer service foundations.

11%

Customer Protection

SAMA financial customer protection principles.

Business Conduct

Business conduct rules for staff.

Compliance

Compliance principles in retail banking.

Fraud

Fraud concepts affecting retail banking.

13%

AML/CTF

AML/CTF controls in the banking sector.

How to Pass the FA Retail Banking Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Assessment: 100 multiple-choice questions across 10 official FA curriculum chapters (weights 8/25/6/11/7/11/4/7/8/13).
Time limit: 120 minutes.
Exam fee: SAR 1,000 through the Financial Academy.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for Retail Banking Foundations?

The Financial Academy exam details page lists a passing score of 75% for the Retail Banking Foundations professional exam.

How long is the exam and how many questions are there?

The exam is 120 minutes with 100 multiple-choice questions, matching the official FA curriculum chapter map.

How much does the exam cost?

The Financial Academy lists an examination fee of SAR 1,000. Confirm live pricing on the FA portal.

Who requires this certificate?

SAMA requires specified bank and related financial-institution employees who deal with customers to obtain the Retail Banking Foundations professional certificate (updated editions as directed in SAMA circulars).