WSBI welcomes two new Latin American members

Two new Latin American members were welcomed to the WSBI’s global family on 22 June at an extraordinary General Assembly. The membership applications of BancoEstado, from Chile, and Banco Nacional de Crédito, from Venezuela, were approved with 63% of the WSBI members attending or represented at the hybrid meeting. The decision is effective from 1 July.

WSBI President, Mr. Isidro Fainé, welcomed the Assembly’s decision from an in-person gathering with several European members in Saint Jean de Luz, France, where the ESBG’s statutory meetings were taking place. Member representatives from Africa, Asia and Latin America joined online, including the Regional President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Diego Prieto. WSBI-ESBG Managing Director, Mr. Peter Simon, gave a presentation about the two new members, as he put their application for the Assembly’s consideration.

Founded in 1855 and chaired by Mr. Daniel Hojman, state-owned BancoEstado is a regional champion of financial inclusion and serves 82% of the Chilean banking customers.

Banco Nacional de Crédito, established in 2002, is Venezuela’s largest private bank. Its President, Mr. Jorge Nogueroles, became interested in joining the WSBI family as he attended the WSBI International Retail Banking Leaders Conference hosted by Mr. Prieto’s Banco Caja Social in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in March.