Kampala, Uganda, January 19, 2025 – Centenary Bank, Uganda’s leading microfinance institution, has today announced that it will host this year’s edition of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) Annual Meeting. The event, which will be held at the prestigious Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala will run from the 10th to the 13th of March 2025.
The gathering will bring together a global network of independent banks that leverage finance to drive sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.
The GABV is a global network of over 70 pioneering financial institutions across 45 countries, committed to using finance as a force for good. Members share the Principles of Values-Based Banking, focused on sustainability and social impact in their mission, putting communities at the heart of financial services, transparency, long-term sustainability, and supporting the real economy.
First summit in Africa
For the first time, the major event for leaders of the world’s most progressive banks will take place in Africa. This year’s programme, ‘Building Resilient Futures: Lessons from Africa and Values-Based Banking’, will explore a breadth of topics, including financial, technological and natural resilience. The event will focus on the role of collaboration between African innovators, financial institutions, and global stakeholders in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive banking sector.
Martin Rohner, GABV’s Executive Director:
“As the world faces increasing challenges, resilience in banking has never been more critical. The 2025 GABV Annual Meeting will showcase how values-based banks are leading the way—using finance as a tool for transformative change. Africa’s innovation and mission-driven leadership offer powerful lessons for the global economy. In a time of division, our shared values unite us, demonstrating that financial inclusion, climate adaptation, and responsible technology can future-proof institutions that put people and planet first.”
The African Chapter of the GABV is currently formed by seven banks: Centenary Bank (Uganda), SIPEM Banque (Madagascar), LAPO Microfinance Bank (Nigeria), FINCA DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ghana and, recently joined, BRAC Uganda and Opportunity International Uganda.
African pioneer in values-based banking
As the first African GABV member and first host of the annual meeting, Centenary Bank continues to champion financial inclusion and ethical banking practices on the global stage.
Speaking at the launch of the GABV Annual Meeting, Fabian Kasi, the Managing Director of Centenary Bank, highlighted the significance of hosting an international forum dedicated to advancing value-based banking practices.
“Centenary Bank is proud to be the first African host of the GABV Annual Meeting. This event will offer a platform for attendees to showcase the innovative approaches that the African banking sector has adopted to navigate challenges in a volatile industry such as banking,” Kasi stated.
“For Centenary Bank, hosting this meeting is not just a milestone, it is a defining moment. Our journey began with a mission to serve the underserved by bringing financial services to those at the grassroots, and to build economic resilience from the ground up. Today, we are honored to be Uganda’s largest microfinance bank with over 3 million customers, many of whom are smallholder farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, and women in rural communities,” he added.
“Values-based banking is in our DNA. At Centenary Bank, we understand that financial services must do more than just generate profits, they must drive positive change in people’s lives and foster sustainable growth. Whether it is financing small businesses, promoting financial literacy, or supporting climate-smart agriculture, we remain deeply committed to creating a future that is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable,” Kasi concluded.
As a bank that believes in leading by example, Centenary Bank allocates 2% of its net profit from the previous year to Corporate Social Investment activities that impact lives in communities.
Centenary Bank has reinforced its position as Uganda’s leading microfinance institution. Currently, the bank serves 3.26 million customers, including smallholder farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, and women.
Additionally, Centenary Bank has grown its deposit portfolio to UGX 4.81 trillion and extended gross loans worth UGX 3.81 trillion to approximately 320,000 customers. These achievements are driven by the dedication of 3,379 staff across 81 branches nationwide, reflecting the bank’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
At the GABV meeting, participants have the opportunity to share insights with sector players to discover innovative approaches to address global challenges through values-based banking. The event will be sponsored by various partners, including the Platinum Sponsors; Pebbu, Gold Sponsors; Zubacx, NSSF and CraftCilicon and Silver Sponsors; Uganda Institute of Bankers (UIB), Micropay, Service Cops, and Fincon.
About Centenary Bank
Centenary Bank is the leading commercial microfinance Bank in Uganda, with 81 branches, 207 ATMs, and over 7,400 agents across the country. The Bank serves over 3 million customers, which is a quarter of the total banking population in Uganda. Its mission is “To transform lives through inclusive sustainable financial solutions, especially in rural areas.”
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. Their collective goal is to change the banking system so that it is more transparent, supports economic, social and environmental sustainability, and serves the real economy. The GABV has 70+ members and operates in 45 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America and Europe. Collectively they serve more than 50 million customers, employ 100,000 co-workers and hold over USD 265 billion of combined assets under management. gabv.org
