The Financial Times and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the winners of the 2009 FT Sustainable Banking Awards, with Triodos Bank of the Netherlands named as Sustainable Bank of the Year and Itau Unibanco of Brazil taking the overall Emerging Markets prize.
The awards, presented at a gala dinner at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in London on June 4 and attended by more than 250 senior bankers and decision-makers in the area of sustainability, have grown in popularity and this year the nominees were selected from among 165 entries from 117 institutions across 42 countries.
Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO, said "The current crisis underscores that sustainability is at the core of building a healthy global economy. A growing number of financial institutions, especially those in emerging markets, are driving this change by proving that promoting a clean environment and serving those at the bottom of the pyramid can be sources of business opportunities.
According to Lionel Barber, the Editor-in-Chief of the Financial Times, "The winners of these awards are radically changing the industry's approach to risk and opportunity".
The 2009 winners and runners-up in each category are:
Sustainable Bank of the Year Winner: Triodos Bank, Netherlands
Runner-up: Standard Chartered, UK
Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year Winner: Itau Unibanco, Brazil
Regional winner Africa/Middle East: Equity Bank, Kenya
Regional winner Asia: Industrial Bank, China
Regional winner Eastern Europe: Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB)
Regional winner Latin America: Itau Unibanco
Achievement in Basic Needs Financing Winner: MicroEnsure, UK
Runner-up: Water Capital, Mexico
Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid Winner: Root Capital, US
Runner-up: WIZZIT, South Africa
Sustainable Investor of the Year Winner: Global Environment Fund, US
Runner-up: E+Co, US
Related LinksFT Sustainable Banking Awards
