Global Alliance for Banking on Values

🎉 Celebrating 60 years of Kindred Credit Union! 🎉

Kindred Credit Union marks a remarkable 60-year journey of aligning values with finances. From its humble beginnings in 1964 with just CAD 22 in deposits, Kindred has grown to over 27,000 members and CAD 2.32 billion in assets. Rooted in the Mennonite tradition, Kindred has consistently prioritized community support, ethical banking, and socially responsible investing (SRI).

🌱 Innovative Products and Growth:

- Introduction of Member Assistance Services (MAS) in 1994 to support members in need.

- Launch of socially responsible investment options and creation care loans.

- Development of the Affordable Housing GIC and Loan to address the housing crisis.

🌍 Community Impact:

- CAD 575,000 in charitable contributions in 2022, including significant support for affordable housing and community food security.

- CAD 1.46 million distributed through the Profit Shares program to personal and business members.

Kindred’s dedication to ethical banking and community development continues to inspire resilient and thriving communities. Here’s to many more years of making peace with your money!

Read more about their journey: https://www.gabv.org/stories-from-gabv/kindred-credit-union-celebrating-60-years-of-ethical-banking/

🌟 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬! 🌟

Excited to share some incredible news on the fight against climate change! Thanks to the relentless efforts of Topo Finance, we now understand that personal banking is an incredibly powerful climate lever, far more impactful than previously believed.

Compose[d] has teamed up with Topo Finance and BankFWDto launch the new, updated Individual Cash Calculator. This tool features new data and capabilities, allowing you to see the carbon footprint of your money if it’s held in big mainstream banks, and offers greener alternatives.

Moving your money to greener alternatives is one of the most impactful actions you can take to drive systemic change. By using the Individual Cash Calculator, you can align your banking with your climate values and make one of the most important consumer climate decisions.

Check out the tool at the link below, and see what the climate impact of your banking equals to: https://www.topofinance.org/calculator

Pertenecer a una comunidad global de impacto trasciende a la propia organización. La fortalece y enriquece con experiencias compartidas e intercambio de buenas prácticas y conocimiento. Y más si el nexo son los valores aplicados a la actividad bancaria, como ocurre entre los miembros de la Global Alliance for Banking on Values.

Nos llena de satisfacción ver cómo nuestros miembros colaboran y se buscan entre sí para hablar de , aprender juntos y profundizar en cómo utilizar las finanzas para mejorar la vida de las personas y cuidar el planeta en Perú, El Salvador y Guatemala.

Conozca más sobre nuestros miembros: https:www.gabv.org/members

Caja Arequipa Banco de Antigua Integral SV

En Caja Arequipa, nos enorgullece formar parte de la Global Alliance for Banking on Values, una alianza que nos brinda la oportunidad de compartir con sus miembros, como Integral SV y Banco de Antigua, el propósito de promover una banca basada en valores. Recientemente, recibimos la visita de representantes de El Salvador y Guatemala, con quienes intercambiamos estrategias y visiones sobre temas como la inclusión financiera, transformación digital, la innovación, los negocios digitales y la sostenibilidad. 🙌🏼

Esta alianza nos permite conocer diversas perspectivas y generar un mayor impacto en beneficio de nuestros clientes y la comunidad. 💙

En Caja Arequipa, seguimos comprometidos con una banca con valores. 💪🏼

Values-based banks are taking a significant step forward in a global effort to address the root cause of the climate crisis – the production and use of oil, gas and coal.

Most members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) exclude financing of any fossil fuel-related activities, and many have committed to ambitious net zero targets as early as 2035.

Additionally, 25 GABV banks from 19 countries have endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, leading the way in this global campaign and urging the financial industry to follow suit.

Learn more about the treaty initiative in the link in the bio.

☀️ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧! 🔌💡

GABV member The First MicroFinance Bank - Afghanistan (FMFB-A) is leading the charge towards a greener future by embracing the power of solar energy.
Starting with the Herat Branch and now the Kisham Branch, FMFB-A is reducing its carbon footprint and operational costs while contributing to a brighter future for Afghanistan.

Over the next five years, FMFB-A plans to install solar panels in 9-10 more branches, aiming to reduce their carbon footprint by a remarkable 145 CO2 (Metric Ton). 🔋️

Learn aboutFMFM-A's solar journey: https://www.gabv.org/stories-from-gabv/the-first-microfinance-bank-afghanistan-solar-journey/

The world’s 60 biggest banks committed almost USD 7 trillion since the Paris Agreement to the fossil fuel industry, according to the 2024 .

Values-based banks are taking a significant step forward in a global effort to address the root cause of the climate crisis – the production and use of oil, gas and coal. Most members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) exclude financing of any fossil fuel-related activities, and many have committed to ambitious net zero targets as early as 2035.

Additionally, 25 GABV banks from 19 countries have endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, leading the way in this global campaign and urging the financial industry to follow suit.

Financial institutions can pave the way by aligning financial practices with sustainability goals and supporting this crucial initiative.

Learn why banks should endorse the Treaty: https://www.gabv.org/projects/fossil-fuel-non-proliferation-treaty/

🌍 🏆Values-based banking is gaining global recognition! We're thrilled to share the latest awards that members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values have received!

From values-based leadership and climate action to financial inclusion, innovation, and regional excellence, our members are being celebrated for their dedication to creating a greener and fairer financial system. 🌱💚

These accolades highlight the incredible impact our members are making in their communities, countries, and regions. Whether it's being named the best employer, the most ethical bank, or a leader in sustainability, we're proud of the transformative work being done to ensure a better future for all.

Visit the GABV Awards Hub and learn more about how values-based banking is driving positive change worldwide: https://community.gabv.org/news?block-tags%5Bcat_46147%5D=46147

Our Indian member ESAF Small Finance Bank’s innovative Dabba Savings Account campaign has shone brightly at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, securing recognition in the Sustainable Development Goals category. 🏆✨

Since its inception as an NGO, financial inclusion and gender equality have been the cornerstones of ESAF's mission. The bank has been committed to uplifting unserved and underserved communities since 1992, with Indian women comprising more than 80% of its customer base.

🚀 In October 2023, ESAF launched the Dabba Savings Account (Micro Savings Account) as a pilot project to empower rural women in South India. This initiative has revolutionised the lives of thousands of women by integrating them into the banking system.

Rural Indian women face significant obstacles to saving money for their families. They typically store cash in a “dabba,” the steel canister used to hold rice, because it is also culturally believed to bring prosperity. Unfortunately, their men take the money away. ESAF wanted to bring banking into the women’s lives and re-created the dabba with a false bottom to allow women to safely store cash.

Although initially a confidential project tailored to meet the unique needs, habits, and privacy of rural women, ESAF unveiled it on March 9th, 2024, during their 7th-anniversary celebrations.

You can view the campaign concept here:

Dabba Savings Account (Micro Savings Account) In the serene villages of South India, a silent revolution was stirring, one that was set in motion through a groundbreaking initiative led by ESAF Small Fin...

🔊WE STAND FOR DIVERSITY🤝

, and have a central role in the Banking on Values movement. Values-based banks strive to foster diverse and equitable communities and promote social inclusion by providing financial access and funding support to individuals and businesses that are often underbanked. Also, by financing organisations that promote a more diverse, equal and inclusive society.

Every day as a global network, the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) lives diversity across countries, regions and cultures. The world is complex, and so are the challenges we face. Our banks operate in countries with different perspectives on human rights, including sexual orientation or gender identity. Nevertheless, each member works to deliver on its commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in its own context and under different formal and informal rules.

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 GRADUATES OF THE GABV LEADERSHIP ACADEMY! 🎉

This year marks another milestone in our transformative learning journey for leaders from values-based banks around the world, proudly offered by the GABV in collaboration with the MIT CoLab and Presencing Institute. Here are some key highlights from the 9th edition:

🌍 The programme welcomed 22 participants from 11 organisations across 10 countries.
💻 Continuing with innovation, the programme successfully delivered a blended virtual and in-person format.
🗽 The in-person module took place during the Global Alliance for Banking on Values Annual Meeting in Italy, hosted by Banca Etica.
💚 Participants benefited from insightful peer coaching and personalised individual coaching sessions.

Since the programme's inception, over 230 participants have graduated, forming a diverse and passionate network of leaders ready to navigate and lead with values in times of disruption.

Congratulations once again to our new graduates! We are excited to see the impact you will make in the world. 🌟



Triodos Bank UK Triodos Bank - Banque Triodos Triodos Bank Nederland Teachers Savings and Loan Society Limited Centenary Bank GLS Bank Alternative Bank Schweiz / Banque Alternative Suisse Opportunity International Climate First Bank Clearwater Credit Union Banca Etica New England Federal Credit Union VSECU

🌍 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬' 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧-𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧

The full Secretariat of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values@ meets in person once a year to discuss how we can better serve our members. This annual gathering is an important moment for us to come together, reflect, and plan for the future.

During our recent three-day meeting at Ghent, Belgium, we reviewed our performance over the past year, set new goals and actions to advance the values-based banking practice, and delved into our 2027 Strategy and Theory of Change as a movement.

This year, we were graciously hosted by our Belgian member, vdk bank. We had the opportunity to listen to their expectations from the GABV as members, meet their Management Team and find out about their centennial history and their impactful work in the local community. We also enrolled in a learning journey where we visited the oldest building in town, St. Bravo's Abbey, managed by a citizen-led foundation, Buren van de Abdij (Neighbors of the Abbey), and learned from community green energy project Energent.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your contributions, energy and commitment, which made this meeting so memorable! And kudos to vdk bank for hosting us so generously.

SustainableFinance

Today, 5 June, we are celebrating , the largest platform for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.

Led by the UN Environment Programme since 1973, this year’s campaign focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the slogan “𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅. 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. We are .”

We want to celebrate this important date by showcasing how values-based banks foster projects and finance businesses that 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.
☮ 🌱

These are a few of the many examples:

💚 Bank Australia is the first bank in the world to own and manage a private conservation reserve.
💚 LAPO Microfinance Bank reduces energy consumption in their offices and offers clean green lending solutions in Nigeria.
💚 FINCA RDC has expanded a 3-year reforestation programme which aims at planting 1 million trees in Congo.
💚 Triodos Bank UK has been pioneering nature-based investments to finance nature preservation and restoration.
💚 Caja Arequipa has partnered with Asociación ARBIO Perú to protect the conservation of the Amazonia rainforest and also to promote entrepreneurs in the area.
💚 NMB Bank Limited financed a USD 1.6 million project in Nepal focusing on waste management as well as renewable energy generation.
💚 Sunrise Banks supported the restoration of 50+ watersheds in Oregon, California, Washington and British Columbia, and has helped restore habitats for endangered orcas.

✨ We are excited to 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 Jules Massin 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬'𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 as our new Metrics and Impact Manager. ✨

Jules works closely with our Head of Impact & Research, Tytti Kaasinen, focusing on the GABV Scorecard and greenhouse gas accounting. Keep reading to learn a little more about Jules and why he decided to join the GABV.

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟
I am originally from Avignon, a small town in the sunny south-east of France. I have been living in Paris for a few years now, although I never miss an opportunity to spend time outdoors, hiking or cycling. I worked for over four years as a Senior Analyst and then as Head of Data & Operations at an independent provider of climate and biodiversity data to financial institutions, where I have focused on the development and technical implementation of climate-related risk and impact measurement methodologies.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐀𝐁𝐕?
I have a somewhat ambitious (and perhaps naive) belief that finance, by acting as a driver and facilitator of the economy, has a pivotal and important role to play in addressing environmental and social challenges. However, assuming this responsibility cannot be a mere coincidence, it requires a genuine intention and a commitment to values that make sense. As an engineer and an expert in climate issues, I wanted to take a step back from narrow techno-centric viewpoints and broaden my perspective to embrace a more global and plural approach to ecological and social issues.

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞?
My primary responsibility is to oversee the development of the GABV Scorecard, the methodological tool used to measure progress towards a values-based banking business model. I guide members on their journey and engage with potential new GABV members. This tool is a powerful resource for defining what a values-based bank is and how that definition is evolving in the face of new environmental and social challenges. I will also support our members on portfolio GHG emissions accounting and reduction targets.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚?
Data is just a raw material and data analytics, while a great tool, remains a tool. What interests me is the intention behind the tool and the right understanding of the problems in order to define appropriate metrics that serve a purpose. I am confident that we can demonstrate how values-based banking can deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. I am eager to contribute to this mission!

Meet the GABV team: https://lnkd.in/eQAr4GRz

Did you know your company's banking could be its biggest climate culprit? 🤯

Topo Finance’s new report: The Carbon Bankroll 2.0 reveals companies’ financial management may be both their largest source of emissions and their most powerful lever for climate action. 🌎💸

The report includes a series of critical insights:

• If the largest banks and asset managers in the U.S. were a country, they would be the third-largest emitting country in the world, behind China and the United States.

• For many of the world’s most climate-conscious companies, including Apple, Google, and Microsoft, the emissions stemming from their cash and investments likely either represent their largest source of emissions or are larger than all their other emissions combined.

In addition to its findings, the report also provides guidance on how to embrace this new climate power. 💪 Trailblazers like Atlassian, Patagonia, and Seventh Generation are already transforming their financial management into a catalytic climate lever. 🌱

Don't miss out on these crucial insights to green your bottom line. Read the full report here: https://www.topofinance.org/carbon-bankroll-2

The Carbon Bankroll 2.0 — Topo Finance The Carbon Bankroll 2.0 From Awareness to Action Helping companies move from awareness to action Companies have historically treated their banking and investing as a climate-neutral activity, but as Topo Finance’s new report reveals, companies’ financial management may be both their largest sour...

📢 Calling all changemakers and ethical finance enthusiasts!

The 2024 edition of the "Just Money" Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is now open for registration and it's packed with exciting new content! 🎉

Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this comprehensive online course dives into the world of values-based banking. Prepare to be inspired by real-world case studies from members of the GABV, showcasing the transformative power of purpose-driven finance.

🔗 Register for free and be apart of the change: https://mitxonline.mit.edu/courses/course-v1:MITxT+11.405x/

Collaboration among members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is a powerful way to amplify the impact of values-based banks. Here are some inspiring examples of member study visits over the last year. 💚

Collaboration among members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is a powerful way to amplify the impact of values-based banks. Here are some inspiring examples of member study visits over the last year.

💚NMB Bank Limited Bank Muamalat BANFONDESA Banco de Antigua Visión Banco Opportunity International Bank Australia Southern Bancorp City First Bank Sunrise Banks Merkur Andelskasse Ekobanken Cultura Bank Bank of Palestine | بنك فلسطين Alternative Bank Schweiz / Banque Alternative Suisse vdk bank Triodos Bank Nederland 💚

Learn more about how values-based banks promote a fairer economy, in our 2023 Annual Report:https://www.gabv.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GABV-2023-Annual-Report.pdf

Peace, and the stability that comes with it, is a precondition for sustainable development and a fair economy. But there can be no peace and stability while financial institutions continue to fund the production of, and trade in, arms. GABV members are a testament of how financial institutions are actively excluding the arms industry from their activities.

In this eye-opening panel discussion leaders from values-based banks advocating for peace explore the impact of banks and investment companies in financing wars and the arms trade. The speakers share examples from their own experiences and different cultural contexts. Gain insights from:

✨ Priscilla Sims Brown, CEO and President, Bank (USA)
✨ Aldo Bonati, Stewardship and Engagement Manager, Etica Sgr - Banca Etica Group (Italy)
✨ Mirela Pekmezi, CEO, FINCA DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Watch the panel discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuNqmYkPILQ&t=1s

☮️ Read the GABV's : A Statement for : https://www.gabv.org/declarations/milan-declaration-a-statement-for-peace-2024/

Ethical Investments & Peace - The World at a Crossroads (GABV 2024 Annual Meeting) This event explores the role of banks and investment companies in financing wars and the arms industry. The Panel discussion "Finance for Peace", included re...

Last week, our Executive Director, Martin Rohner, was invited to participate in the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s Annual Meeting, hosted by GABV member, Credo Bank / კრედო ბანკი (Georgia) and Mastercard. The event took place from 2-5 May 2025 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Martin had the privilege of moderating an insightful roundtable discussion during the meeting. The roundtable explored the microfinance industry's efforts in Asia and the Pacific to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), low-income groups and women-led businesses, with a focus on financial resilience, including climate change adaptation. The roundtable was attended by several microfinance organisations, including GABV member, Kompanion Bank (Kyrgyzstan).

This trip to Georgia was also an opportunity to visit Credo Bank and learn about their meaningful work. Credo Bank is the 8th largest bank in Georgia and has excelled in maintaining a human touch while seamlessly integrating digital technology at its best, thanks to its cutting-edge digital hub with 300 dedicated staff members, allowing them to constantly cater to the evolving needs of their clients.

We extend our gratitude to Credo Bank for making this collaboration possible. Learn more about Credo Bank here: https://credobank.ge/en/

New technologies like AI have the potential to revolutionise the way values-based banks operate, making them more effective and efficient in delivering on their mission.

In a thought-provoking keynote, Surjit Chana, Executive, Board Director of Beneficial State Bank and Harvard Fellow, explores the key elements of this transformation:

🔍 What are the key technologies?
🎯 How can they help us deliver on our mission?
🛡️ What are the safeguards?
💡 What is the opportunity for values-based banks?

Watch the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pZKCX-DOFE&t=344s

The World at a Crossroads (GABV 2024 Annual Meeting) - Technology & Digital Transformation Keynote Keynote on Technology & Digital Transformation by Surjit Chana, Executive, Board Director, and Harvard Fellow.

We're celebrating by showcasing how values-based banks foster positive work environments for their employees and the recognition they have received. 🏦👏

These are a few of the many examples:

💚 Charity Bank (UK) pays its employees a living wage and demonstrates its values and commitment to its employees and the wider community.
💚 Teachers Mutual Bank Limited's (Australia) new employee engagement report demonstrates that sustainability has been the #1 employee engagement topic for over 13 years.
💚 Sunrise Banks (USA) received multiple workplace awards, including Best Company Culture.
💚 Vancity (Canada) is supporting employee well-being by increasing its coverage for mental-health benefit per employee and per dependant.
💚 BRAC Bank PLC’s Prottoy Banking solution is committed to enhancing the lifestyle of the banks employees by providing them with unique features.
💚 Caisse d'économie solidaire Desjardins (Canada) is recognised as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for the 13th year in a row.
💚 Cooperative Bank of Karditsa (Greece) introduces a new DEI policy to promote fairness, professional development and leverage diverse talent.