Melbourne will be the venue for a conference of the world’s sustainable banks in March 2014, the Global Alliance of Banking on Values (GABV) announced today in Berlin.

Hosted by GABV member and Australia’s first customer-owned bank, bankmecu the conference will bring 22 of the world’s leading sustainable banks, from Asia, Africa, Latin America to North America and Europe to Melbourne for a week-long Annual General Meeting.

“This is a great honour that GABV have chosen to hold the 2014 AGM in this far flung part of the world and have invited bankmecu to host the important occasion,” said bankmecu Managing Director, Damien Walsh.

“The members of GABV have a shared commitment to finding global solutions to international problems – and to promoting the use of finance to improve the quality of life for everyone on the planet.

“These annual meetings provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the role and responsibilities of banks in a progressive society and how can contribute to a more sustainable world and a social economy,” Mr Walsh said.

GABV members are meeting in Berlin this week around the theme of transforming banking values and have brought together policy makers, academics, social entrepreneurs and members of the public to develop concrete ways in which banking can be more sustainable and responsible.

“These are critical discussions for financiers to be having and we have seen a renewed interest in Australia in social business and the cooperative model of business as providing a more responsible approach to capitalism,” Mr Walsh said.

The week-long event in Melbourne will have the theme leadership in banking and will include a number of opportunities for the broader community to get involved in the discussion. It will also be a carbon neutral event.

GABV members have assets exceeding $60 billion and together touch the lives of more than 10 million people in 25 countries. bankmecu is the only Australian member of GABV and has been a member since May 2012.