WSBI-ESBG

📌 With the European Commission unveiling its Savings and Investment Union (#SIU) plan, ESBG is bringing top experts together to unpack its legislative and non-legislative measures. We will discuss: 🔎 How will SIU shape European savings & investments? 🔎 What steps should policymakers take to make it a success? 🔎 Can the Swedish model be replicated in other Member States? Join: 🔹 DG FISMA’s Andrea Beltramello 🔹 Swedbank's Sofia Lindh Possne 🎤 Moderated by ESBG's Ines Scacchi 📍 Hybrid event – ESBG Headquarters, Brussels 𝑳𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 – 𝒊𝒏-𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒍 📆 7 April | 10:30 – 12:00 CET 🔗 Secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/dAJ9QHKJ #ResponsibleBanking

📢 Shout-out to WSBI-ESBG members! Does your institution turn insurance into a lifeline for communities? The 2025 European Microfinance Award is looking for solutions that help communities stay resilient. Apply by 10 April and put your work in the spotlight. 📌 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/d3PFigtc #InclusiveInsurance #FinancialResilience #Microfinance

📰 Breaking News: The March edition of our flagship publication "Financial News and Views" is now available! 👉 This edition features an exclusive interview with Nicolas Namias, the new President of the European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG), as he shares his vision for the future of European savings and retail banks. 📢 News headlines:  Our quarterly edition also explores the evolving landscape of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), provides a deep dive into digital banking initiatives across Asia-Pacific, reports on the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) Regional Forum in Casablanca, the impact of the #Omnibus package on European banks, and to wrap up, insightful takeaways from Banco Montepio’s Diversity Award from the World Economic Forum and many more! Discover our newspaper in 4 languages and enjoy your read: 👉 English https://lnkd.in/e-rAg_Ay 👉 Spanish https://lnkd.in/eTnr448Q 👉 French https://lnkd.in/eT82_pMP 👉 Italian https://lnkd.in/eN74hhpa   Special thanks to our contributors, members and advisors: Groupe BPCE, Roland Tassler, Bruna Passaretti, Diederik Bruggink, Douglas Lockhart, Pedro Leitao, Paula Feliciano Viegas, Raquel Policarpo, Caja Huancayo, Jorge Moya Acevedo, Adrien Boudet, Andreea L., CaixaBank, Joan Rosàs Xicota, Wendy Teleki, Weselina Angelow, Nihan Çevirgen & Thomas Van de Leemput

🪙 Savings and Investments Union Unpacked: Lessons from Sweden On 19 March, the European Commission is expected to unveil its much-anticipated #SavingsandInvestmentsUnion (SIU) plan. Just days later, ESBG is bringing together key voices to explore its implications for Europe’s banking sector. As savings and retail banks, we know that a well-functioning Savings and Investments Union (SIU) must empower retail investors while preserving efficient, stable financial intermediation. 🇪🇺 How can we ensure that new EU initiatives strengthen local banking models? Join us on 7 April for a deep dive into the Swedish experience and its lessons for Europe. With insights from DG FISMA’s Andrea Beltramello and Swedbank’s Sofia Lindh Possne, this discussion will explore what works - and what risks must be avoided. 📍 Hybrid event – ESBG Headquarters, Brussels Limited seats – in-person attendance subject to approval 🕙 7 April, 10:30 – 12:00 CET 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eWCREeVW #ResponsibleBanking #SavingsandInvestmentsUnion

💡 What does gender equality look like in action? This #InternationalWomensDay, we’re shining a light on the impact of WSBI-ESBG’s global network. From MicroBank in Spain which boosted funding for women entrepreneurs by 60%, to FEDECRÉDITO in El Salvador empowering over a thousand women through financial training. From Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) PLC offering collateral-free loans to women-led businesses, to PT. Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk in Indonesia investing in the next generation of women leaders. From OJSC ELDIK BANK in Kyrgyzstan which introduced a gender focused loan product to Social Development Bank (SDB) in Saudi Arabia that contributed 13 billion riyals to increase women's economic participation. THIS is the impact of a global network working together. But progress isn’t just measured in numbers. It’s seen in who gets a seat at the table, who makes decisions, and who shapes the future. In Brussels office of WSBI-ESBG, we live these values every day. Women make up more than half our team, and two-thirds of our departments are led by women who drive strategy and push for change. 🎥 Watch our video and hear our team wish you Happy International Women’s Day in 8 languages! 📩 Elena Trafimovich, Viviane Garceau, Céline Stevens, Christel MACON, Weselina Angelow, Valentina Alfreider, Ines Scacchi, Maria Francesca Di Raimondo, Bahar Elif AKYUZ, Nihan Çevirgen, Andreea L., Sandra Vilic, Janine Barten #IWD2025 #womensempowerment #genderequality

👩🎓🧑🎓Some lessons can’t be learned in a textbook - like the thrill of a well-timed investment or the patience of a long-term strategy. That’s why the European #StockMarketLearning competition gives students real-world financial experience in a risk-free environment. On 21 March 2025, the most successful teams will gather in Brussels for an unforgettable awards ceremony hosted by ESBG. 👉 https://lnkd.in/egSpEy8A #LearningByDoing #ResponsibleBanking

📢 ESBG welcomes the #Omnibus package’s push for simpler, more proportionate corporate green rules The European Commission’s Omnibus package is a step in the right direction - balancing the Green Deal’s objectives with much-needed simplification of sustainability reporting. 🔹 #CSDDD: We support the move towards more realistic implementation timelines, proportionate requirements for financial services, and balanced due diligence rules. 🔹 #CSRD: Reducing excessive reporting, delaying sector-agnostic standards, and removing sector-specific ones are crucial steps forward. The trickle-down effect on smaller companies must be minimized. 🔹 #EUTaxonomy: Simplifying Do No Significant Harm (#DNSH) criteria and ensuring transition activities are properly considered are key to a more effective framework. Reviewing the #GreenAssetRatio (GAR) will also help ensure it serves as a practical tool for banks. For over a century, European savings and retail banks have fueled local economies and long-term growth. With the right regulatory framework, they can continue driving the sustainable transition - effectively, responsibly, and with lasting impact. 📩 Adrien Boudet & Andreea L. 👉 Read the press release https://lnkd.in/edUmwdq5

💡 What does it take to make smart financial decisions? Critical thinking, strategy, and hands-on experience - all of which the European #StockMarketLearning competition provides! On 21 March, ESBG is bringing the winners together in Brussels to celebrate their journey in financial education. From their first virtual trade to standing on the winners' stage, these participants have shown that #LearningByDoing makes all the difference. ℹ️ https://lnkd.in/egSpEy8A

📢 #Omnibus initiative: ESBG calls for simplification, proportionality, and consistency. The drive for a greener, more sustainable economy must go hand in hand with clear, practical regulations that support financial institutions and SMEs. Ahead of the Commission's Omnibus initiative proposal, the European Savings and Retail Banking Group calls for a balanced approach that fosters sustainability while ensuring simplification and feasibility.   Key points include: 🔸Simplify the EU #Taxonomy framework to make it more practical and avoid unnecessary complexity. 🔸Reduce reporting burdens under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (#CSRD) so sustainability reporting adds value rather than becoming a bureaucratic exercise. 🔸Ensure due diligence obligations under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD) remain workable, so they do not limit access to private financing. 🔸Strengthen proportionality in #ESG risk reporting under Pillar 3 to avoid excessive requirements for smaller institutions. For over a century, European savings and retail banks have been pillars of local economies, financing businesses and supporting long-term growth. With the right regulatory framework, they can continue driving the sustainable transition, responsibly, effectively, and with lasting impact. 📌Read our proposals: https://lnkd.in/gssnQ7Ji 📌Read the position paper: https://lnkd.in/gjctCmrP 📩 Adrien Boudet & Andreea L.

👩💻 Harnessing technology for a more inclusive future The #GlobalDigitalCompact (#GDC), adopted at the UN Summit of the Future on 22 September 2024 and endorsed by the WSBI-ESBG General Assembly on 29 October 2024, sets a roadmap for inclusive and responsible digital transformation. From AI-powered solutions to digital public infrastructure (#DPI), technology is reshaping finance, driving innovation, and expanding financial inclusion. WSBI-ESBG supports a digital future that serves all communities. 💡 Key priorities? Bridging the digital divide, ensuring data privacy, fostering ethical AI, and alignment with the UN #SDGs. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ehQdis_V 📩 Contact Weselina Angelow