Banking on Values brings together a global movement for positive transformation
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We face multiple, compounding crises across the globe. Some are new, others are accelerating, and together they have a significant impact on our lives.
Addressing challenges like climate change and social inequality requires a shift in our attitudes and behaviours at all levels.The rules of the game need to change.
Finance plays a crucial role in shaping our economy, society, and the environment. It has the potential to be a powerful force for good; but transformation is essential.
Values-based banks demonstrate that finance can foster peace, human rights, social inclusion and the protection of our planet. They use money to help create a prosperous world within planetary boundaries, leaving no one behind.
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Our Transformative Impact
The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) represents a movement of leading sustainable and ethical banks that are driving innovative solutions to reshape the financial system for positive, lasting impact.
By providing products and services that address the unique needs of their communities and the most pressing global issues, values-based banks drive the urgent transformation towards a fair, greener and inclusive economy.
Discover how values-based banking is already delivering positive impact for millions of people, transforming their lives, in six key areas: Affordable Housing, Clean Energy, Peace & Social Justice, Biodiversity, Women Empowerment and Financial Inclusion.
Read on to learn more about the practices worldwide leading this change and how you can support this vital movement.
Who
we are
Who
we are
Positive impact in six areas
Discover how values-based banking is already delivering positive impact for millions of people,
transforming their lives, in six key areas
Affordable Housing
As the world grapples with the ongoing housing crisis, values-based banks promote access to housing as asource of financial wellness and inclusion. Their efforts to finance affordable and social housing projects, support efficiency homes and uplift disadvantaged populations demonstrate that banking can be apowerful tool for positive social change.
Understanding access to housing as a fundamental human right and a precondition for access to employment, education, health, and social services, values-based banks not only provide essential financial support but also drive social and environmental sustainability
40%
World population will need adequate housing by 2030 (UN)
100M
People are homeless worldwide (UN)
¼
People live in harmful, unsafe conditions (UN)
30%
Of income spent on housing defines affordability
A Specialist Disability Accommodation home loan from Bank Australia allowed Marlena to create anindependent living space in an apartment adapted to her needs, all while staying close to herfamily.
Ziquora Banks, Chief Impact Strategy Officer at Verity Credit Union, shares how the bank is fostering generational wealth through homeownership in this podcast.
Unity Trust Bank’s lending enabled Action House to expand properties for safe, independent living for those with complex needs like mental health issues, homelessness, and substance misuse, providing 465 bed spaces at affordable rents.
Merkia Gaston is a proud mother and first-time homeowner. With the help of the mortgage team of Southern Bancorp, she was able to qualify for down payment assistance and make her homeownership dream a reality.
Thousands of people in the Dominican Republic do not have access to decent housing. So Banco Ademi has launched CrediMejoras, a home improvement programme targeted at families living in the most deprived areas of the country (in Spanish).
Former NBA player Devean George aims to revitalise North Minneapolis by converting an 83,000 sq ft warehouse into a modular housing plant, creating affordable homes and 300 jobs.
In 2019, Hélène Filteau and Jean Nolet purchased 20 hectares in Neuville to create Cohabitat Neuville, a nature-focused cohabitation space for 29 members, with support from Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins (in French).
Biodiversity & Nature Conservation
Half of the world’s GDP relies on nature, including essential resources like clean air, water and food. Recognising this, GABV member banks take an active role to protect biodiversity and nature. They provide green loans and investments for eco-friendly projects, integrating environmental criteria into their business decisions delivering sustainable finance with the power to help regenerate our planet.
Banks and other financial institutions are key to biodiversity conservation by influencing the flow of capital, which can either harm or support the natural environment, and by integrating environmental criteria into all their activities.
2.13M
Species are threaten (IUCN Red List)
½
Of global GDP depends on nature and its services (WEF)
69%
Drop in wildlife population since 1970 (WWF)
100M
HA of productive land degraded annually (2015-2019, UN)
With financial support from Triodos Bank UK, charity Avon Needs Trees is using its newly acquired 422 acres to create the largest new woodland in South West England.
Watch this fireside chat between Ken LaRoe, CEO & Founder of Climate First Bank, and renowned ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messenger of Peace.
Through a variety of projects Kompanion Bank’s community support team and 32 agronomy and veterinary specialists, has trained thousands in eco-friendly farming, reduced plastic waste, supported composting, protected pastures and promoted food security in remote communities.
Marcel Liner of Pro Natura, the Swiss Farmers’ Union, and Braida Dür, farmer and member of the ABS board of directors, propose their definition of biodiversity-friendly agriculture in this conversation (in French and German).
Banco Mundo Mujer’s organic farming loan funds agricultural activities that promote environmental conservation and responsible use of renewable resources, supporting the well-being of current and future communities in Colombia
BioBoden, founded in 2015 by 12 organic farmers with GLS Bank’s support, secures land for organic farming. It addresses succession challenges and prevents farmland from falling into the hands of speculators through cooperative funding.
Since 2017, young volunteers from the NGO “In the same boat” have removed more than 1.5 million kilos of plastic rubbish from the Norwegian coast. Cultura Bank has funded several of their boats, specially adapted for beach clean-ups.
Women Empowerment
Despite significant progress, women continue to face systemic barriers in various aspects of life, including economic participation, education and leadership opportunities. Empowering women is not only a matter of social justice but also a crucial driver of economic growth and community development.
Women empowerment is at the heart of value-based banking, embodying a transformative approach to financial services that benefit communities at large. By ensuring equal access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making processes, the full potential of half the world’s population can be harnessed with benefits for everyone.
$300B
Gender credit gap worldwide (IFC)
$0.77
Earned by women for every $1 earned by men (UN)
$360B
Annual deficit in spending on gender-equality measures (UN)
$160T
Global loss in human capital from gender inequality (World Bank)
FINCA researchers are gathering data from thousands of clients to understand the barriers to women’s financial inclusion in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Priscilla Sims Brown, CEO of New York-based Amalgamated Bank, is featured by CNBC in their 2024 annual list of Women Transforming Business. Meet this changemaker.
BancoSol has implemented a comprehensive gender focus in its business approach, under the umbrella of “Avanza Mujer”. Listen some stories from Bolivian women entrepreneurs in this 10-part podcast (in Spanish).
Through a partnership with the Asian Development Bank, Credo Bank will provide USD 25 million in loans to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, with a particular focus on supporting women in the agricultural sector.
As part of their support to SMEs in El Salvador, Banco Integral not only offers lending but also financial education and entrepreneurship support to their customers. Meet the story of Angélica Sigüenza and her bakery Innova Croissant (in Spanish).
ESAF empowers Indian women by integrating traditional rice canisters with banking services. This unorthodox micro-savings account provides financial security and independence, bringing banking into women’s homes, transforming lives in a culturally relevant way.
Promoted by Banca Etica, Il coraggio di contare (The Courage to Count) compiles stories of women in ethical finance in Italy. The book highlights women’s challenges in achieving financial independence and shatters stereotypes in this sector (in Italian).
Clean Energy
Finance plays a pivotal role in achieving the climate goals agreed by the international community. Most values-based banks exclude financing for fossil fuel related activities, and many have committed to ambitious net zero targets as early as 2035. They intentionally finance clean energy and energy efficiency solutions for individuals and businesses, often leading the way in their regions.
Values-based banks help address the root causes of the climate crisis by adopting fossil-free lending and asset management strategies and finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
86%
Of CO2 emissions come from fossil fuels (IPCC)
$4T
Needed annually for clean energy by 2030 (IEA)
60 banks
Committed almost $7 trillion to fossil fuels since 2015 (BOOC)
25 GABV
Banks endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative
NMB Bank provides finance for remote village communities eager to generate their own alternative energy sources. The bank also finances Safa Tempo (electric 3 wheelers for public transport) for women drivers, so they are better off.
Stephen Gates is the founder ofNeighborhood Power, a Maui-basedrenewable energy micro utility that provides clean, affordable power tocommunities across the United States.
The FMFB-A embarked on a significant journey in March 2023 when its Heratbranch became the first facility to be powered by solar energy.The bankplans to install solar panels in up to 10 additional branches.
Fuchstal’s community wind farm in Bavaria powers over 4,700 households annually while avoiding 16,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. A camera-based bird detection system ensures environmental compliance in bird protection (in German)
Banfondesa’s inclusive green finance programme allows access to sustainable energy through credit, cuts branch carbon emissions, and helps customers transition to cleaner, resilient energy production models (in Spanish)
NCB’s financing enabled Solar Landscape to install solar panels on ten public schools sites in New Jersey. This will help the schools to reduce electricity costs and allocate the savings to other school programmes.
Financial Inclusion
Financial inclusion gives individuals and businesses, regardless of status, access to essential services like banking, credit, and insurance. This helps manage risks, invest in education, and build a secure future. Globally, 1.7 billion people, including 1 billion women, lack banking access, relying on cash and informal lending. Bridging this gap is key to personal stability and equitable economic growth.
Values-based banks are continuously innovating and improving solutions to promote access to finance, striving to empower individuals and businesses to build a secure future and foster a healthy relationship with their finances.
3.4M
People benefited from GABV members’ financial literacy programmes
1.7B
Unbanked adults globally (World Bank)
90%
Of businesses are MSMEs, accounting for 50% of GDP (UN)
7 of 17
SDGs emphasise financial inclusion as an enabler
The book ‘Hecho en Perú’
(Made in Peru) showcases success stories of micro and small entrepreneurs
financed by Caja Arequipa, reflecting the bank’s commitment to empowering underserved communities
(in Spanish)
BRAC Bank’s Tally Loan-‘Druti’ promotes financial inclusion by providing business loans to smalltraders, often overlooked by formal banks. Based on the traditional Tally Khata, it bridges the credit gapfor millions in Bangladesh
The Vancity Cormorant Island Community Branch exemplifies financial inclusion by partnering with the ‘Namgis First Nation and Alert Bay, providing local banking services, supporting the economy, and enhancing financial literacy in remote communities
3Bank’s main mission is to serve underserved people and businesses in Serbia and reduce unemployment, especially in rural areas. Triodos Bank’s impact funds invest in 3Bank to support their financial inclusion work
Training consultation and capital injection from Bank Muamalat have enabled entrepreneur Siti Suraya Shariff to grow her roselle-based products business and expand cultivation by opening another farm.
In partnership with the Sheriff’s Office and the Black Men Coalition of Dane County, Summit has launched a financial literacy programme for county jail residents to equip participants with crucial financial skills for reintegration.
Beyond a branch, Credit Human has innovated with Financial Health Centres where members can find the tools, advice and resources they need to improve their financial lives.
Banco de Antigua is dedicated to low-income consumers and MSMEs in rural areas of Guatemala. In the four last years, the bank has been investing in a digital transformation plan supported GABV supporting partner, FMO, allowing them to improve the customer experience.
Events
GABV Leadership Academy Alumni Meeting, Montana (USA)
Clearwater Credit Union hosts the in-person gathering of the GABV Leadership Academy 2026, creating a vibrant space where current participants in the 2026 cohort of this programme and alumni come together in Missoula, Montana (USA). By invitation only.
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Peace and Social Justice
In banking, peace and social justice are essential to create a financial system that serves all people fairly and equitably. Values-based banks prioritise ethical practices, support sustainable development and empower marginalised communities. This approach fosters trust and stability within the financial system and contributes to a more inclusive and resilient world, where economic opportunities and resources are available to everyone.
Peace and Social Justice as the Foundations for a Just and Equitable Society
The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) was created to put finance at the service of people and the planet. Peace, social justice, and the stability they bring are essential for tackling global challenges like climate change and inequality.
$1T
Invested by the financial sector in arms (2020-2022)
92
Countries engaged in conflicts beyond borders in 2023 (GPI)
18 June
International Day for Countering Hate Speech
120M
People displaced worldwide in 2023 (UNHCR)
Bank of Palestine: Orphans of the War
The Gaza Orphan Care programme, a partnership between Taawon and the Bank of Palestine group, has provided support to over 20,000 children orphaned by the conflict in the Gaza strip.
Kindred Credit Union (Canada): Centre for Peace Advancement (Article)
Located in the University of Waterloo campus, the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement is home to a variety of participants involved in the work of advancing peace.
Centenary Bank (Uganda): The Refugee Financing Initiative
Bidibidi, in Northern Uganda, is one of the largest refugee camps in Africa. Since 2018, Centenary Bank promotes banking access for refugees through customized banking solutions and financial literacy training, empowering them for economic resilience and sustainability.
Charity Bank (UK): Involving Disabled Young People in Drama
Theatre and film are often inaccessible for disabled people. Head2Head provides multi-sensory theatre experiences to the special needs and disabilities communities. A loan from Charity Bank allowed them to grow in space and flexibility.
vdk bank (Belgium): Social Commitment for a Better Society
vdk bank has partnered with Refugee Walk, an event that demonstrates solidarity with people fleeing war and violence. Beyond financial support, the bank actively encourages its employees to participate in the walk
Merkur Bank (Denmark): Building Peaceful Communities (Website)
Merkur Cooperative Bank financially supports ActionAid Denmark in fighting for a just and sustainable world. The aim of this association is to build communities that can join the fight against injustice, poverty and discrimination, with a special focus on young people.