The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) welcomes ENAT Bank (Ethiopia), CAF Bank (UK), Financiera Paraguayo Japonesa (Paraguay), and Jumin Credit Union (South Korea) as associate members, expanding GABV’s reach across all regions and strengthening its mission to use finance as a force for good.
Enat Bank: Leading the Charge for Women’s Financial Empowerment
Enat Bank, founded in 2013 by 11 Ethiopian women, is Ethiopia’s 16th commercial bank and the only women-focused institution in the country. Named “Enat” (meaning “Mother”), it addresses limited financial access for women through tailored products, non-collateral loans, and financial literacy programmes.
The National Bank of Ethiopia recently ranked Enat Bank as the only “transformational” institution among 30 commercial banks on its first Gender Financial Inclusion Index. Since its inception, Enat has disbursed over USD 11 million (1.4 billion birr) in loans to women-led businesses, creating more than 22,000 jobs while maintaining its majority women-owned status and unique focus on gender empowerment and financial inclusion.
CAF Bank: Banking Exclusively for Charities
CAF Bank was established in 1986 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), a UK charity founded in 1974. The bank provides specialist banking services exclusively for charities and social enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized organisations underserved by mainstream banks. While operating as a for-profit institution, CAF Bank gifts surplus profits to its parent charitable foundation for the benefit of the charity sector.
Following concerns about poor banking service quality for UK charities, CAF invested millions in a transformation programme that went live in June 2025, re-platforming core banking and customer-facing systems. The bank now serves over 14,000 charitable customers across the UK, holds USD 1.8 billion (£1.45 billion) in deposits, and maintains a USD 375 million (£300 million) lending portfolio. CAF Bank is transitioning to a growth phase, aiming to triple its charity customer base while expanding lending and enhancing services to help organisations manage cash flow, fund projects, and maximise social impact.
Financiera Paraguayo Japonesa: A Bridge Between Two Cultures
Financiera Paraguayo Japonesa (FPJ) was founded in 1997, inspired by Paraguay-Japan ties dating to 1936 when Japanese settlers arrived and contributed significantly to Paraguay’s agricultural modernisation and rural development. FPJ’s creation symbolised not only a financial initiative but also a recognition of the Japanese community’s long-standing contributions to Paraguay’s economic and social development. The institution sought to embody values associated with both traditions: Paraguay’s focus on inclusion and growth, and Japan’s emphasis on discipline, innovation, and long-term vision.
FPJ was created with the vision of strengthening the financial sector in Paraguay by providing access to credit and savings products to individuals, small businesses, and entrepreneurs, particularly those underserved by traditional banks.
FPJ partners with impact investor Oikocredit to support SME financing, job creation, and poverty reduction. This collaboration focuses on providing financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In December 2024, they signed a new financing agreement of USD 5.7 million (PYG 40 billion) with a four-year term to further support the real economy.
Jumin Credit Union: From USD 34 to USD 315 Million
Jumin Credit Union was founded in December 1979 in Seongnam, South Korea, by 47 community members who pooled USD 34 (KRW 47,800), inspired by cooperatives like Vancity. After gaining government approval in 1986, it transitioned to a regional credit union focused on community development in 1995.
Today, Jumin Credit Union serves 19,700 members, primarily social enterprises, cooperatives, and community businesses, with over USD 315 million (KRW 450 billion) in assets. Beyond traditional banking, it provides financial education, incubates new cooperatives, offers free business space to struggling social economy organisations, and supports scholarships and cultural programs for underserved residents. Operating under member-based governance with a focus on mutual benefit rather than profit, Jumin’s name meaning “residents” reflects its mission as both a financial partner and social institution strengthening local solidarity and inclusion.
Joining forces with GABV
The addition of the new member banks strengthens GABV’s global mission to demonstrate how banking can generate positive social and economic impact. GABV’s Executive Director, Martin Rohner, welcomes the new members and highlights the alignment between the banks’ missions and GABV’s values:
“The GABV continues to expand, and it is wonderful to see this growth reflected in an increasingly diverse global footprint. With Jumin Credit Union in South Korea and ENAT Bank in Ethiopia, we welcome members from two countries represented in our network for the very first time. We are also pleased to be present again in Paraguay through Financiera Paraguayo Japonesa, and to strengthen our presence in the UK with now four member banks, including CAF Bank. A very warm welcome to all four institutions. I look forward to a close and fruitful collaboration as we work together to lead and advance values‑based finance in each of these markets.”
About the GABV
The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is a network of independent banks and banking cooperatives with a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. Founded in 2009, the GABV comprises 72 financial institutions operating in over 45 countries across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe. It serves more than 50 million customers collectively, holds over USD 265 billion of combined assets under management and employs 100,000 co-workers.
Meet the banks of the network and the countries where they operate: www.gabv.org/members
