This article discusses how banks can save the world. The UK’s Chartered Banker Institute – the oldest institute of bankers in the world – has played a leading role since 1875 in helping finance professionals to develop and demonstrate the traditional, in fact universal, principles of “good banking”: stewardship, thrift, prudence and professionalism.
Our founders stressed the importance of financial stewardship – of banks and bankers being responsible, trusted stewards of depositors’ and clients’ funds. Now we think of stewardship in a much broader sense – stewardship of our natural resources, people and planet – but it’s the same principle at heart.