Top executives of banks from over 40 countries will reiterate their strong commitment to values-based banking for people and the planet as a three-day international summit starts in Dhaka today.
The 13th Summit of Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) will also stress the need to spread the concept across communities and countries for a sustainable and secured future for mankind.
The summit, with the theme 'From Perspectives to Action: Transformational Banking in Practice' is being hosted by BRAC Bank Limited at a city hotel.
Organisers briefed the media about the summit at a pre-event press conference on Monday evening.
BRAC Bank managing director and CEO Selim RF Hussain, and Sunrise Banks (USA) CEO and GABV Chair David Reiling spoke at the briefing.
Mr Hussain said BRAC Bank takes great pride in being associated with the values-based banking movement.
"…through this annual meeting, we'd be able to disseminate the message to a larger audience and sow the seeds of a sustainable banking movement in Bangladesh and beyond," he cited.
BRAC Bank passionately works to make the environment cleaner and the earth greener through responsible financing.
"We believe prosperity and the planet should march hand in hand as we continue our development journey," said Mr Hussain.
"We'll continue to work with the GABV to adopt best practices and pursue values-based banking for a sustainable future," he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Reiling said this is the first global in-person meeting since the outbreak of the corona pandemic.
"We are coming together to discuss how to respond as a movement in the face of the multiple crises shaking the world," he commented.
"We differ from conventional banks, not in how we respond to external challenges but in our starting point, which dictates everything we do."
More than 50 delegates, particularly CEOs and MDs of member banks, are participating in the conference this year.
Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is scheduled to inaugurate the event.
The delegates will join several discussion sessions that will touch on transformation issues in the banking industry, the significance of values-based banking, decarbonisation, financial inclusion, microfinance, sustainability integration, human capital and organisational transformation.
They will observe Banking on Values Day on November 10 in a public event where all members will join in person and virtually.
As part of the conference, the delegates will also visit BRAC Bank customers who have set an exemplary benchmark in a sustainable way of doing business.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, the GABV was founded in 2009 by 10 pioneer banks that believed in the need for a fairer financial System.
The GABV, presently made up of 70 banks, credit unions and microfinance institutions from across the world, advocates for banks to take a pivotal role in shaping the economy, society and the environment.
