1. What is the program?
The FIRST LEAP Program is a banking career-launch program run through TimesPro in association with IDFC FIRST Bank.
Total duration: 90 days
- 2 months: Paid, in-person classroom training
- 30 days: On-the-job training (OJT)
After successful completion of training and evaluation, candidates are expected to join IDFC FIRST Bank as:
Associate Manager – Acquisition (Household)
Candidates also receive a Certificate in Banking & Finance from Bennett University.
2. Job & Compensation
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Job title | Associate Manager – Acquisition (Household) |
| Employer | IDFC FIRST Bank |
| Stated annual salary | ₹4,00,000 p.a. |
| Incentives | Additional incentives |
| Benefits | Non-cashable benefits |
| Classroom stipend | ₹5,000/month × 2 months = ₹10,000 |
| OJT salary | ₹33,333 for 30 days |
| Total training-period payment | ₹43,333 |
| Fee reimbursement | Full program fee refund after 1 year of successful employment |
.
3. Program Cost
Listed program fee
₹75,000 + applicable GST
The listed installment structure is:
| Payment | Base amount | With stated GST |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | ₹5,000 | ₹5,900 |
| 1st installment | ₹20,000 | ₹23,600 |
| 2nd installment | ₹25,000 | ₹29,500 |
| 3rd installment | ₹25,000 | ₹29,500 |
| Total | ₹75,000 | ₹88,500 |
There is also a 5% early-payment discount if the full program fee is paid before the batch starts.
Separate registration fee
The information also mentions a ₹500 registration fee, payable only after clearing the aptitude test.
This fee is refundable if you attend both interviews, regardless of whether you are selected.
If you are a no-show for either interview, it becomes non-refundable.
Potential point to clarify: The ₹500 registration fee appears separately from the ₹75,000 program fee, so confirm with TimesPro exactly how it is treated in the final payment calculation.
4. Eligibility
You need to meet all of the following:
- Graduate or above
- Freshers and experienced candidates can apply
- Below 27 years of age
- Minimum 50% in Class 10
- Minimum 50% in Class 12
- Minimum 50% in Graduation
- Good communication skills
- Willingness/interest in sales and customer acquisition
5. What You'll Learn
The curriculum is broader than basic banking and includes:
Banking
- Banking fundamentals
- Indian banking system
- IDFC FIRST Bank structure and services
- Branch operations
- Customer service
- First-Time Resolution (FTR)
Digital & Technology
- Digital banking
- Mobile banking applications
- CRM systems
- MS Office tools
Finance
- Financial planning
- Capital markets
- Mutual funds
- Sales and distribution
Sales
- Complete sales process
- Customer acquisition
- Performance-oriented selling
Professional Skills
- Verbal and non-verbal communication
- Presentation skills
- Professional etiquette
- Grooming and hygiene
- Workplace readiness
The program also mentions concepts such as Blue Ocean Strategy, Digital Matrix, and Design Thinking.
6. Training Format & Schedule
Total: 90 days
Phase 1 — Classroom Training
2 months
- In-person
- Dedicated training center
- Paid stipend: ₹5,000/month
Phase 2 — OJT
30 days
- On-the-job training
- Stated payment: ₹33,333
Daily schedule
6 hours/day, Monday–Friday
Training locations
Dedicated IDFC course centers are mentioned in:
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Bengaluru
- Kolkata
- Hyderabad
- Coimbatore
7. Selection Process
The process is essentially:
Register → Aptitude Test → TimesPro Shortlisting → IDFC FIRST Bank Interview → Provisional Offer → Training → Evaluation → Bank Joining
More specifically:
- Register online
- Clear the aptitude test
- Get shortlisted by TimesPro
- Attend the IDFC FIRST Bank interview
- Receive provisional offer letter
- Complete training and evaluation
- Join IDFC FIRST Bank
Document verification and an additional interview may apply depending on the process.
8. Biggest Financial Advantage
The major attraction is the fee reimbursement.
You initially pay the program fee, but according to the program information:
The full program fee is refunded after 1 year of successful employment at IDFC FIRST Bank.
So, assuming you successfully complete the program, join the bank, remain employed for the required year, and meet the reimbursement conditions, the program fee can effectively be recovered.
However, this condition should be verified in writing before paying, particularly:
- What exactly counts as "successful employment"
- Whether you must remain employed continuously for the entire year
- When the refund is actually paid
- Whether GST is also refunded
- Whether the ₹500 registration fee is included/excluded
- What happens if employment ends before one year