Via a banking model at the service of the people, the Worldwide Savings Banks Institute and Retail Banks (WSBI, by its initials in English) takes demonstrating an unshakeable commitment with the economic and social development in pursuit of a fairer company, inclusiva and egalitarian for a century. On the occasion of the celebration of its centenary, and under the Together slogan ‘100 years towards moves forward. Giving way to the future of the responsible’banking, the association has gathered during on 30 and 31 October in Rome to representatives of financial institutions all over the world to tackle challenges of the future.
Build a responsible banking is more than a financial commitment; it is a mission that looks for transform lives and promote a company more inclusiva where every person has access to worthyand fair economic opportunities. Low this premise was born in 1924 the great banking association of the world, the WSBI.
Boosted within the framework of the International Congress of the Saving, celebrated on 31 October of that year, the pioneering initiative it suited the bases of the social banking in the sector and person in charge, a differential model, concentrating on the people, that prioritises the balance between the return and the social impact . With the initial objective of promoting the saving as an essential aspect to guarantee the financial security and independence of the people, more than 350 financial institution' representatives of 27 countries met in Milan to share visions and sketch which, currently, is a crucial global network for the economic growth, the sustainable finances, the financial philanthropy and inclusion.
The work of the companies of the WSBI goes beyond being financial institutions, emphasise for a deep commitment with the social responsibility, a quality that is part of its identity and that it distinguishes them of other institutions of the financial sector. Currently, the WSBI represents to more than 6,400 savings banks and retail banks of 78 countries all over the world , that they possess a total of 13.25 trillion dollars of balance sheet, give employment to 2.1 million people and they attend to 1,700 million clients. In Spain, CECA - association that represents to CaixaBank, Kutxabank and Cajasur Bank, ABANCA, Unicaja, Ibercaja Bank, Caixa Ontinyent, Colonya Pollença and Cecabank and to more than thirty foundations - was summed to the initiative from the first moment of its birth in 1928. Since then, has maintained a close relationship with the WSBI and an outstanding representation in its governing bodies and working groups.
The work of the WSBI and its companies, under the leadership of its chairman, Isidro Fainé, that also holds the presidency of CECA and of the Fundación «la Caixa », is supported on three securities known as «3Rs». In the first place, its focus retail or retailers, linked to its commitment with the actual economy and the financing of families and SMEs; in the second place, its quality of rooted or taken root, in line with its solid establish in the territories and communities in which operate and reified in the development of initiatives to dynamise the local economies and promote the financial inclusion and, lastly, responsible or people in charge, derived from its historic commitment with the Obra Social and the sustainability with focus in the vulnerable groups.
During last years, the WSBI has expanded its influence all over the world, as an exchange broker in favour of the progress and of a su stainable future and inclusivo, with a special dedication to the reduction of the poverty and to the educational advance. CECA represents perfectly this social banking model and person in charge and assumes increasingly a significant international function thanks to WSBI. Thus, the Obra Social, soul of the sector CECA, is a worldwide performance benchmark with regard to social investment, philanthropy and solidarity. In the same line and with the aim of spreading its social commitment to international level, last April, the WSBI constituted the Social and PhilanthropicBoard, under the presidency of Isidro Fainé. This organisation will channel the investment of members of the WSBI towards initiatives that they strengthen to the communities and they tackle the most urgent social requirements. In fact, the companies of the WSBI allocate annually 3,500 million dollars to social initiatives all around the world.
