Isidro Fainé chairs in Brussels the Social Board of Directors and Board and Philanthropic of the Worldwide Savings Banks Institute and Retail Banks (WSBI)

The meeting set the Institute’s goals for the coming months, with a particular focus on digital transformation, innovation, sustainable finance, and institutional matters

The Social and Philanthropic Council serves as a platform for WSBI members to exchange ideas and share best practices, promoting targeted investments that strengthen communities and empower the most vulnerable individuals

The meeting showcased progress in numerous social initiatives by WSBI-member organisations from countries including India, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Peru, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Morocco, the United States, Belgium, Germany, and many others

WSBI allocates $3.5 billion annually to social projects worldwide, a figure it expects to increase to €5 billion within two years

The President of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI), Isidro Fainé, chaired this week in Brussels the 61st Presidents’ Committee, the 44th Board of Directors meeting, and the third session of the Institute’s Social and Philanthropic Council. The meetings brought together over 30 senior delegates from 23 countries, representing nearly 20 member institutions, and served to set the organisation’s objectives for the coming months, with particular focus on digital transformation, innovation, sustainable finance, and institutional matters.

The event also provided an opportunity to update the main activities, achievements, and ongoing initiatives since the last WSBI General Assembly held in October 2024 in Rome. During this period, WSBI has maintained its commitment to supporting its members through advocacy, training, and knowledge sharing.

Participants also discussed ways to foster knowledge exchange through initiatives such as international study visits planned for 2025, as well as a new initiative, WSBI Social Week, which will promote dialogue and practical exchange on innovation, digitalisation, cybersecurity, and sustainable development.

The importance of inclusive finance with a gender perspective was also highlighted, noting the growing involvement of members in the World Bank’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code, which has become a key element of WSBI’s global efforts.

The next statutory WSBI meetings will take place in October in Washington D.C., coinciding with the IMF annual summit.

3rd Social and Philanthropic Council

As part of the meetings, the WSBI’s 3rd Social and Philanthropic Council was held, chaired by Isidro Fainé. This Council embodies principles deeply rooted in WSBI’s savings banks and retail banking members, such as social investment and philanthropic contribution. It also serves as a roadmap for its partners, aimed at generating innovative solutions that promote social investment and support philanthropic projects.

Additionally, the Council acts as a platform for members to exchange ideas and share best practices. This way, it encourages targeted investments that strengthen communities and empower the most vulnerable individuals. Its labour camp covers six areas: poverty reduction, youth support, education improvement, women’s empowerment, care for the elderly, and environmental sustainability.

The meeting showcased progress in numerous social initiatives by member organisations from countries including India, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Peru, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Morocco, the United States, Belgium, and Germany, and many others. Among the initiatives presented, the Work for Progress programme stands out—a job creation initiative for young people and women, born from a partnership between the ”la Caixa” Foundation, Caja Huancayo (Peru), Fundación Grupo Social (Colombia), and Al Barid Bank (Morocco).

Also showcased were social projects developed by the Peruvian Caja Huancayo, such as community kitchens for vulnerable families and sustainable development of Amazonian communities, alongside initiatives from banks like the State Bank of India and Botswana Savings Bank.

Isidro Fainé, President of WSBI, CECA, and the ”la Caixa” Foundation, stated: “The Social and Philanthropic Council is a platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, which enhances the impact of social programmes carried out by our member institutions around the world. It reminds us that together, we have the power to drive transformative change and create a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come”.

Meanwhile, Antonio Romero, CEO of CECA, participated for the first time as a member of the WSBI Board of Directors and as Vice President of ESBG.

The companies of the WSBI allocate annually 3,500 million dollars to social initiatives all around the world. This figure, which has nearly doubled since Isidro Fainé’s previous term as WSBI President ($1.8 billion annually in 2021), highlights the commitment of the savings and retail banking sector to supporting and channelling private funds towards sustainable economic development. At the last WSBI General Assembly, held in Rome in October 2024, Isidro Fainé expressed the intention to increase this amount to $5 billion over the next two years.

Among the organisation’s members are prominent international actors such as Spain’s ”la Caixa” Foundation and CECA, Colombia’s Fundación Grupo Social, Morocco’s Al Barid Bank, Thailand’s GSB Foundation, the State Bank of India, and Germany’s Sparkassenstiftung, among others.

WSBI Social Week, a champion of global philanthropy

WSBI Social Week is a new global initiative scheduled to take place from 8 to 12 September, 2025, aiming to amplify the philanthropic efforts of WSBI members through a shared commitment to volunteering and community action.

The initiative is inspired by the Bangkok Declaration, adopted during the first meeting of the Social and Philanthropic Council (SPC) held in the Thai capital in April 2024. This document highlights the importance of collaboration, sustainability, and inclusion as guiding principles for the role financial institutions can play in addressing global challenges and driving progress.

Social Week will focus on the work areas of the Social and Philanthropic Council: youth engagement, poverty alleviation, education, women’s empowerment, care for the elderly, and sustainability. It will also highlight how the collective efforts of WSBI’s savings banks and retail banks can contribute to greater societal progress.

Designed as a structured yet flexible platform, it will allow WSBI member institutions to tailor their participation to specific goals and priorities. Members can choose to organise a variety of activities throughout the week or concentrate their efforts on a single, high-impact project.

Whatever the approach, the main goal is to promote best practices and successful social impact initiatives carried out by WSBI member institutions in the local communities where they operate, while also contributing to the creation of a global philanthropic movement that enables members to amplify their impact beyond their own regions.

The initiative will serve as a catalyst for long-term change, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing that drive meaningful progress in financial inclusion, social development and sustainability.