World Savings and Retail Banking Institute
Helping savings and retail banks around the world to thrive
European Savings and Retail Banking Group
The voice of savings and retail banks at the heart of EU decision making
Driven by the three "R's"
With roots in 1924, WSBI-ESBG members enjoy a long history of socially responsible banking around the world. Although organizational structures vary from country to country, they each share certain values in their business models, embedded within the three “R”s.

Social responsibility is a core value of our members, towards their clients, employees, communities and the environment. Unlike Wall Street players, WSBI members are Main Street players.

Retail
Actively providing financial services for people – individual consumers and their households – as well as for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and local authorities.

Regional
Deploy broad distribution networks rooted within the communities they serve, including local and regional outreach in both urban and rural areas. Savings mobilized locally support the local economy. Members offer both digital solutions but they also keep the human touch through extensive branch networks.

Responsible
Social responsibility is a core value of our members, towards their clients, employees, communities and the environment. Unlike Wall Street players, WSBI members are Main Street players, serving all segments of population. Savings and retail banks follow a balanced approach for financial sustainability and a return to society. Profits make a sustainable bank; profit maximization should not be the ultimate goal. ESBG member banks rather give back part of locally made profits by reinvesting in the communities they serve, such as via philanthropic projects and foundation work.
Together WSBI and ESBG...

WSBI ESBG
WSBI ESBG Charter for Responsible and Sustainable Business
A signatory of the United Nations Global Compact since 2006, WSBI-ESBG follows the 10 Principles within it. These principles describe fully social and environmental responsibility commitments to follow. WSBI-ESBG is supportive of the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, which range from ending world poverty to fighting climate change by 2030.

65
COUNTRIES

88
MEMBERS

1.7BN
CUSTOMERS

556MIL.
TRANSACTIONS ACCOUNTS
July 6, 2022
WSBI shares conclusions of its 6-year programme for financial inclusion
WSBI programme for financial inclusion shared its conclusions at a closing event in Paris, attended…
June 30, 2022
Banking in 2030 – How will the current global trends, especially AI, shape the post-Covid19 pandemic future of the European banking industry and its employees?
The EU Retail Investment Strategy aims to increase the level of retail investor participation in…
May 12, 2022
Overtime for Ukrainian war refugees: DSGV employees donate over 100,000 euros through extra work
European Savings and Retail Banking Group members are standing in solidarity with people in need in…
May 12, 2022
Stand with Ukraine: Erste family provides extensive humanitarian aid
European Savings and Retail Banking Group members are standing in solidarity with people in need in…
May 12, 2022
The German Savings Banks Association (DSVG): Over 100,000 accounts already opened for Ukrainian war refugees
European Savings and Retail Banking Group members are standing in solidarity with people in need in…
May 12, 2022
CaixaBank has been leveraging its network of branches in Spain to assist asylum seekers and refugees fleeing Ukraine
European Savings and Retail Banking Group members are standing in solidarity with people in need in…
May 12, 2022
Ukraine: ESBG members reaffirm their social responsibility
European Savings and Retail Banking Group members are standing in solidarity with people in need in…
April 28, 2022
Scale2Save brings Ugandan financial stakeholders to commit for financial inclusion
A WSBI knowledge sharing event in Kampala ended with joint call to action for financial inclusion.
March 30, 2022
Scale2Save champions inclusive financial services for Nigerians
WSBI's programme held its first event in-person event since the pandemic in Lagos to great success.
March 24, 2022
ESBG members waive bank transfer costs to support Ukrainian people
European Savings and Retail Banking Group members are standing in solidarity with people in need in…
June 17, 2022
Digital euro: ESBG’s response to the European Commission targeted consultation
The European Savings and Retail Banking Group stated the need to further assess exactly what gaps…
June 3, 2022
ESBG supports consumer participation in capital markets
The EU Retail Investment Strategy aims to increase the level of retail investor participation in…
May 27, 2022
ESBG calls for more feasible rules on the new corporate sustainability due diligence
In its response to the European Commission call for feedback on the proposal for a Directive on…
May 23, 2022
ESBG submits its position to the International Accounting Standards Board on IFRS 17
ESBG believes that this does not correctly portray the insurance service provided under these…
May 18, 2022
ESBG welcomes horizontal cybersecurity requirements for digital products
ESBG's response to the European Commission consultation on the Cyber Resilience Act, a regulation…
May 17, 2022
An open data economy should be multilateral and cross-sectoral
ESBG's response to the European Commission consultation on the proposed Data Act calls for a…
April 28, 2022
ESBG response to ESMA’s consultation on guidelines of MiFID II suitability requirements
ESBG's response to the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) consultation on some MiFID…
April 4, 2022
Developing a proportionate, fair and efficient IRRBB framework in the EU
On 4 April 2022, ESBG responded to the EBA consultation specifying technical aspects of the revised…
March 7, 2022
European Commission review of the Mortgage Credit Directive
SBG sent its response to the European Commission questionnaire on what to include in the upcoming…
March 4, 2022
Customer protection
The ESBG, together with eight other associations has written to the European Data Protection Board,…
Sanctions Painkiller: Series of webinars on navigating sanctions compliance
Virtual Panel |
03 June 2022
Conference on cyber security in banks
Virtual Panel |
28 January 2022
Cyber security and fighting cyber crime are among the top concerns for all banks across the globe. News on identity and data theft, various cyber-attacks, security breaches resulting in large losses, make regular headlines.
“It’s the labour supply, stupid”
Virtual Event |
27 January 2022 | 14.30 CET
The coronavirus (COVID-19) shock affected some demographic groups’ labour force participation rate differently from what past cyclicality would suggest.