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The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) celebrates its 14th Annual Meeting
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Leaders from the world’s most progressive banks will meet virtually from 8-10 March
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BRAC Bank, co-founder of the GABV, hosts this year’s event
Amsterdam/Bangladesh, 2 March. BRAC Bank will host the 14th Annual Meeting of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of the most environmentally progressive and socially inclusive banks in the world. ‘Banking for Good in an Age of Change – How Values Can Secure a Positive Future’ takes place from 8-10 March, bringing together CEOs and co-workers from values-based banks to explore their challenges and opportunities in an era of rapid change.
Values-based banks are independent financial organisations that use money to deliver positive social and environmental impact. They are private banks, credit cooperatives, microfinance institutions, credit unions, and community banks, serving more than 60 million customers in 44 countries and holding over USD 200 billion in assets. BRAC Bank co-founded the network in 2009.
High profile speakers and learning journeys
The event offers a unique opportunity to learn about the Asia Pacific region and Bangladesh in particular. BRAC Bank will show their peers how they create positive impact in Bangladesh through their focus on finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). A series of special learning journeys will show the stories behind some of BRAC Bank’s customers and the impact they have in the country.
The Annual Meeting includes a rich mix of high-profile speakers on relevant topics such as climate change, financial inclusion and digitalisation. Keynote speakers including climate expert, futurologist and co-author of ‘Transformation is feasible!’, Jørgen Randers; former Blackrock investment banker and NGO ‘Rumie Initiative’ Founder, Tariq Fancy; leading economist and Director of the London School of Economics, Baroness Minouche Shafik; and development economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Bangladesh, Dr. Atiur Rahman.
Opening and closing sessions
The opening and closing sessions will provide a platform for leading Bangladeshi experts, offering insights into Bangladesh’s key economic and social developments, and providing context for the meeting.
At the inaugural ceremony, Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP will highlight the remarkable socio-economic progress as the South Asian country celebrates 50 years of independence.
To close the Annual Meeting, Fazle Kabir, Governor of the Central Bank of Bangladesh, will provide a closing perspective on the Bangladesh economy in a global context and dwell on prevailing conducive environment as a destination for foreign direct investment.
The international and Bangladeshi media are requested to contact GABV and BRAC Bank Media Contact to participate in the inaugural and concluding ceremonies and public events.
Public Event
As part of the programme, there will be a Public Event on 9 March at 15.00 CET (Central European Time) around “BRAC, the best development model in the world”. This virtual event will explore the story of BRAC and how it has evolved to become the largest development NGO in the world, transforming the lives of millions of people around the world. With the interventions of Shameran Abed, Executive Director BRAC International, Selim Hussain, CEO BRAC Bank, and Mary Houghton, Co-Founder of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV).
About the Annual Meeting
The GABV Annual Meeting has become the key moment for the Banking on Values movement. Hosted by a member bank and over the course of three days, participants, including CEOs and a broader audience connected to the movement, discuss the future of the financial sector and focus on how values-based banks can play a role in addressing the biggest social and environmental challenges. If it’s safe to do so, in November BRAC Bank will also host a second GABV meeting in person in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
About the GABV
The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is a network of independent banks using finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. The GABV has 66 members and operates in 44 countries across Asia, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America and Europe. Collectively they serve more than 60 million customers and hold over USD 210 billion of combined assets under management. Learn more at gabv.org
About BRAC Bank
BRAC Bank started its journey in 2001 as a private commercial bank focused on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Over the years, it has become a leading bank in Bangladesh, keeping its core focus in SME. Today, BRAC Bank holds a dynamic network of 187 branches, 465 SME unit offices, 700 Agent Banking Outlets and 375 ATMs across Bangladesh. The majority shareholding of the bank belongs BRAC, the largest non-government organization in the world. bracbank.com/en
For more information and interviews, please contact:
Sonia Felipe Larios
GABV Communications and Marketing Manager
Sonia.felipe@gabv.org
+ 31 (0) 623 760 692
