The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the shortlist for the 2010 FT Sustainable Banking Awards. The Awards, now in their fifth year, were created to recognise banks and other financial institutions that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating social, environmental and corporate governance considerations into their operations.

This year the nominees were selected from among 156 entries from 110 institutions across 44 countries. Three categories – Achievement in Basic Needs Financing, Banking at the Base of the Pyramid, and Sustainable Investor of the Year – were open to non-banking financial institutions as well as banks.

The judging panel met last week to agree on a shortlist for each category of award. The nominees are as follows:

Sustainable Bank of the Year
  • Co-Operative Financial Services, UK
  • GLS Bank, Germany
  • HSBC, UK
  • Itau Unibanco, Brazil
  • Banco Santander Brasil
Sustainable Emerging Markets Bank of the Year
Africa/Middle East
  • BMCE Bank, Morocco
  • Equity Bank, Kenya
  • Nedbank, South Africa
Asia
  • BRAC Bank, Bangladesh
  • Industrial Bank, China
  • YES Bank, India
Eastern Europe
  • Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria
  • RZB Group
  • Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB)
Latin America
  • Banco do Brasil
  • Itau Unibanco, Brazil
  • Banco Santander Brasil
Achievement in Basic Needs Financing
  • Acumen Fund, US
  • Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Service, India
  • One Acre Fund, Kenya
  • Scotiabank Peru
Banking at the Base of the Pyramid
  • Financial Information Network and Operations (FINO), India
  • Five Talents, UK
  • MAP International, US
  • MicroEnsure, UK
  • Standard Chartered Bank, UAE
Sustainable Investor of the Year
  • Acumen Fund, US
  • Calvert Foundation, US
  • FINCA International, US and Deutsche Bank, Germany
  • Global Environment Fund, US
  • Ventureast Fund Advisors, India

“This year’s shortlist is stronger than ever, and reflect the growing importance of sustainability in the financial industry across all markets,” said Martin Dickson, FT Deputy Editor and Co-Chair of the awards judging panel. “It is clear that a large number of financial institutions have made environmental, social and governance considerations a core element in their operations and their approach has moved beyond risk analysis to actual product and programme implementation.”

”Environmental and social concerns are being taken seriously by financial institutions globally, and this year’s entries underscore how institutions are incorporating sustainable financing into their operating decisions,” said Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO. “The best financial decisions take development issues into account and IFC is intent on continuing to encourage institutions in emerging markets and elsewhere to make sustainability a key part of their business efforts.”

The judging panel for the 2010 awards is:
  • Martin Dickson, Deputy Editor, Financial Times (co-chair)
  • Rachel Kyte, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC (co-chair)
  • Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Chairperson, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations
  • David Harris, Head, Responsible Investment, FTSE Group
  • Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO, Women’s World Banking
  • Richard Laing, Chief Executive, CDC Group Ltd
  • Herman Mulder, international sustainable development advisor

Leading consultancy Sustainable Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, is technical advisor for the programme.

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in London on 3 June 2010. The guest speaker will be Dr Mo Ibrahim, Chairman and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

The dinner will conclude the 2010 FT/IFC Sustainable Banking Conference, a full-day gathering of major decision-makers, strategists and visionaries involved in sustainable finance.

Confirmed speakers for the Sustainable Banking Conference include:
  • Robert Zoellick, President, World Bank
  • Lionel Barber, Editor, Financial Times
  • Dr Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank
  • In Channy, President & CEO, ACLEDA Bank
  • Laurie Spengler, President & CEO, ShoreBank International
  • David Croft, Director, Conformance and Sustainability, Cadbury
  • Annemieke Wijn, Board Member, Rainforest Alliance

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About the Financial Times:

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the newspaper, printed at 23 print sites across the globe, has a daily circulation of 401,286 (ABC figures March 2010), while FT.com has over 2 million registered users and 126,281 digital subscribers. The FT has a combined print and online average daily readership of 1.9 million people worldwide (PwC audited figures, November 2009).

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

For further information please contact:

Harriet Mallinson, Financial Times, London, +44 (0) 20 7873 3882 or harriet.mallinson@ft.com
Azmar Sukandar, Financial Times, Hong Kong, +852 2905 5519 or azmar.sukandar@ft.com
Aliza Marcus, IFC, Washington, DC, +1 (202) 473 8168 or amarcus@ifc.org

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