About WSBI
The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute helps savings and retail banks around the world to thrive.
It brings together savings and retail banks from about 80 countries, representing the interests of some 6,000 banks on all continents.
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WSBI's focus
Founded in 1924, WSBI focuses on issues of global importance affecting the banking industry. It supports the aims of the G20 in achieving sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth and job creation around the world, whether in industrialised or less developed countries.
WSBI's role
WSBI represents the interests of its members towards international policy makers and standard setters on the main regulatory and other issues that shape international retail banking policy. They also promote a vision for a pluralistic banking model and an enabling environment for financial inclusion. WSBI has the additional role of bringing together members to exchange knowledge through meetings at international and international level as well as technology platforms.
Favouring inclusive globalisation
Favouring an inclusive form of globalisation that is just and fair, WSBI supports international efforts to advance financial access and financial usage for everyone. WSBI supports the aims of the G20 in achieving sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth and job creation around the world, whether in industrialised or less developed countries.
Supporting a diversified range of banking services
WSBI also supports a diversified range of financial services that responsibly meet customers' transaction, saving and borrowing needs. To these ends, WSBI recognises that there are always lessons to be learned from savings and retail banks from different environments and economic circumstances. It therefore fosters the exchange of experience and best practices among its members and supports their advancement as sound, well-governed and inclusive financial institutions.
Driven by the three "Rs"
WSBI members are competitive, efficient and responsible institutions that share the following characteristics – the three “R’s”: - RETAIL ... focus on financing the real economy: individuals, local governments, as well as micro, small and mid-sized companies in all industry sectors
- REGIONAL ... maintaining close relationships with the local communities they serve through their dense branch network and other distribution channels
- RESPONSIBLE ... employing a responsible approach to business balancing the need for financial sustainability and a return to society while nurturing fair and clear relations with customers and promoting financial inclusion. >> Related: WSBI-ESBG Charter for Responsible and Sustainable Business
Member benefits – Access, expertise, information
Opportunity to influence the international advocacy positions elaborated by WSBI that promote the savings and retail banking model and the visions of its members towards international policy makers such as the G20, the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) as well as the implementing partners of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).
This advocacy is based on positions elaborated through member consultation and expertise provided by seven WSBI-ESBG standing advisory committees and a dedicated team of financial service industry experts at the Joint Office.
Opportunity to influence the policymaking agenda of the regular high level meetings with key international organizations and individuals such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group and the United Nations (UN) as well as with key regional players to profile the achievements and activities as well as the concerns of WSBI members.
Access to a dedicated team of experts in the financial service industry having thorough knowledge of the workings of international and European institutions.
Capacity building through WSBI’s first class Training and Consulting services in such areas as management training, agent banking, mobile banking and mobile money, payment systems, distribution policies, risk management and sustainable financial inclusion.
Knowledge sharing and networking platforms that include:
These events also provide access to influential policy makers and a wide range of industry related stakeholders.
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