Bank Employee Referee description

[arunsk]

Hi All,

I am planning to use a Bank employee (works for HSBC) as one reference.
He is my friend from India and we were colleagues before. At that time he was working as a Software Engineer and later came to UK and currently working as a bank employee for more than 3 years (as Personal Banker).

It is listed in list of acceptable professions as 'Bank or Building society official', can this employee be an acceptable referee? I guess official here means any employee or does he have to be manager or some senior position?

Another question is, what is best way of answering the question 'how you know the applicant'?

Is it enough to mention that, 'I know Arun as a friend from 2007 onwards while working for xxxx company in India' and that he (referee) later on moved to UK and working as Bank official?

I understand it is completely up to the referee how to describe this, I just want to get some suggestions on what information he needs to provide while answering this question so that all the required details are provided to the case worker. I am wondering whether mentioning colleague in a software company creates any confusion?

Really appreciate your suggestions.

regards
Arun