By David Reiling, Chair, Global Alliance for Banking on Values and CEO, Sunrise Banks
I am delighted to present the Global Alliance for Banking on Values 2021 Annual Report.
In this, my first year as Chair of the GABV, I look back on another memorable year, one in which our movement has proved itself to be more relevant and resilient than ever. From safeguarding our communities during the continuing pandemic to providing financial support for vulnerable people in the face of extreme weather events and conflict, it has been inspiring to see how our members have risen to challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.
DOWNLOAD
Access to the 2021 GABV Annual Report
As both CEO of Sunrise Banks and as the incoming Chair of the GABV, I was delighted to be able to host ‘Shaping the Future of Finance‘, the 2021 Annual Meeting. This special event brought together leading voices from around the world, from futurologists to progressive economists, climate scientists and conservationists to diversity and inclusion specialists. It was a genuinely unique meeting positioning values-based banking where it needs to be, as a critical actor in the development of a more just, inclusive and sustainable banking system.
And it provided the perfect backdrop to warmly thank my predecessor, Peter Blom, and celebrate his extraordinary contribution to values-based banking and the GABV. As co-founder and Chair since the GABV began in 2009, we owe Peter a great deal. I, and we, look forward to continuing to see him within the GABV family in the future.
I was delighted and encouraged to see how quickly our network was able to adapt to the new reality presented by the pandemic by switching from an off to an online way of working. This radical change was embraced by members across our community, leading to some challenges but many more opportunities. We were able to radically and successfully change how we connect. We embraced virtual meeting technology, convened effectively to discuss topics that matter to us most and deepened our relationships while reducing our environmental footprint.
“I was also delighted to see Diversity, Equity and Inclusion discussed and acted upon throughout the year.”
As a network, we continued to build our role leading the values-based banking industry during the year. The COP26 meeting in Glasgow provided an important backdrop for the release of a climate finance position paper which I urge all our stakeholders to read. It sets out our longstanding contribution to tackling the climate emergency. It describes where we see we need to develop in the future as leading progressive banks. And it issues a challenge to the mainstream banking industry to move further, faster and in a more coherent way.
Racial justice was one crucial movement for change during 2021, and one that resonates with a network like ours whose members are squarely focused on building inclusive communities embracing the rights of everyone, so they can live dignified and fulfilling lives.
After almost a year as Chair, I am convinced that the world needs our movement now more than ever. While there are some encouraging signs of transformation in the conventional banking system, there is an enormous distance to travel. I am delighted to be sharing that journey with our members, supporting partners and wider stakeholders.
“I look forward to another year of change.”
A year to build on the achievements of the values-based banking movement in the past, offering a powerful, positive vision for a fairer, greener and more inclusive banking system in the future.
