FT Sustainable Banking Awards draw 165 entries

The FT Sustainable Banking Awards, the leading global awards for socially and environmentally responsible banking and investment, have generated 165 entries from 117 institutions in 42 countries in their fourth year.

This very strong response – including a substantial number of entries from emerging markets banks – underlines the extent to which financial institutions around the world are focusing on environmental, social and corporate governance considerations amid the worst crisis to hit their industry in generations.

The awards – created by the Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to recognise banks and other financial institutions that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating sustainability objectives into their operations – have grown in popularity since their launch in 2006. In the inaugural awards, 98 entries were received from 48 banks in 28 countries.

“We are delighted to see such a major response to the 2009 Awards from across the global banking and investment community,” said John Ridding, Chief Executive of the Financial Times. “As traditional business models come under scrutiny due to the ongoing financial crisis, there is clearly increased focus on the role the financial sector can play in providing long-term solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.“

“This strong response reflects that financial institutions increasingly recognise socially and environmentally sustainable investments are profitable,” said Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO. “There is also a growing recognition that meeting the needs of consumers at the bottom of the pyramid is key to future growth and prosperity around the world.”

Entries were received in five categories: Sustainable Bank of the Year, Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year, Achievement in Basic Needs Financing, Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid, and Sustainable Investor of the Year. The Award for Achievement in Basic Needs Financing was a new category for the 2009 edition, highlighting the increasing urgency to find solutions to the under-supply of basic needs such as energy, water and food.

The awards for Achievement in Basic Needs Financing, Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid, and Sustainable Investor of the Year, were open to all financial institutions, including non-banks. The other two categories were open only to banks.

The judging panel will meet this month to select the shortlists of award nominees. Each category will have a shortlist of five finalists -- except Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year, where, as in previous years, the winner will be chosen from four banks awarded prizes for regional leadership in Africa/Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America respectively.

The winners will be announced and the awards presented on June 4, 2009 at a gala dinner at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in London.

The dinner will conclude the 2009 FT Sustainable Banking Conference, the major annual summit on sustainable banking and finance that will gather some of the world’s most renowned visionaries, strategists and financial decision-makers.

Confirmed speakers for the Sustainable Banking Conference include:

• Fabio Barbosa, Chairman, Banco Real

• Beet Heemskerk, Chairman, Rabobank International

• Simon Zadek, CEO, AccountAbility

• Sharan Burrow, President, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

• Alex Counts, President and CEO, Grameen Foundation

• Tom Scholar, Managing Director, International and Finance, HM Treasury

• Lars Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO, IFC

The judging panel selecting the nominees and winners in this year’s awards includes leading figures involved in sustainable finance and development:

• John Willman, UK Business Editor, Financial Times (co-chair)

• Rachel Kyte, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC (co-chair)

• David Harris, Manager, Responsible Investment, FTSE Group

• Richard Laing, Chief Executive, CDC Group Ltd

• Elizabeth Littlefield, CEO, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)

• Herman Mulder, international sustainable development advisor

• Tessa Tennant, Co-founder, Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA)

Leading consultancy Sustainable Finance Ltd is technical advisor for the programme.

The list of participating institutions for the 2009 FT Sustainable Banking Awards is in the attached Appendix. For more information, including registration for the Sustainable Banking Conference and Awards dinner, please go to www.ftconferences.com/sustainablebanking.

For further information, please contact:

Kristina Eriksson, Financial Times, +44 20 7873 4961 or kristina.eriksson@ft.com