Improving banking culture”… what is understood by this? We are convinced that more than one of you will have already decided that it is a future challenge for financial institutions. In short, improving banking responsibility. Social responsibility and corporate responsibility. Yes, you are quite right. Except that this future is already the present. And in fact, on many issues we could also speak of the past. Albeit a recent past.
“The Great Divide”—this expression has been used in the English-speaking world to refer to the gap between the perception of banking by a part of society and the perception from within the banking sector regarding the work and effort already undertaken. And perhaps not fully recognized. Naturally, there is always work to be done for financial institutions. Adapting to regulations, even though the seemingly endless regulatory uncertainty can make it very costly and complicated. And adapting to the also difficult economic and financial scenario, managing risks appropriately. But always accompanying economic agents. And I mean creating means of payment, providing financing, offering financial services, and facilitating different savings alternatives. This is the direct responsibility of the banking sector, and it does it well.
