There is a great deal of talk about global standards for banks as institutions – but what about global standards for bankers as individuals? The post-crisis regulatory focus on banking’s financial capital has been understandable. But what is still missing is an equally vigorous pursuit of global standards to enhance its human capital to enhance and sustain banking’s essential professionalism.
I would like to see global regulators and other bodies such as the Bank for International Settlements, the Financial Stability Board and the G30 promoting and supporting the development of global standards of culture and behaviour to enrich our industry’s human capital, alongside the standards being imposed to strengthen banking’s financial capital. We should strive for international consensus, founded on a genuine, global commitment, in which all banks and bankers put principles of stewardship, prudence and professionalism first.
