WSBI and NSB hold Asia - Pacific Regional Group Conference 2012 in Colombo

The World Savings Banks Institute's (WSBI)18th Asia - Pacific Regional Group Conference 2012 was held in joint sponsorship with WSBI and its only bank member in Sri Lanka, the National Savings Bank (NSB) on March 1 and 2. 2012 as it is a significant year for NSB, since it is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The two-day conference was based on "The Competitiveness of Current Retail Banking of WSBI Members". WSBI represents 23 member institutions from 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and functions as a platform to build relations with national, regional and international institutions and to exchange experiences with peers from within and beyond the region.

WSBI members in the Asia-Pacific are diverse, as diverse are the countries to which they belong. Their business activities range from mobilising savings to full-fledged banking services, but all members, as proximity banks, play a significant role to support the development of their country and the life of its people, through the provision of inclusive financial services. Members meet once a year and have the opportunity to interact on various issues of common interest.

There is also a specific focus put on the identification of opportunities to develop concrete bilateral or multilateral business cooperation between member banks.

The meeting in Sri Lanka, brought together more than 40 delegates from WSBI member institutions and the chief guest at the event, Senior Minister of International Monetary Co-operation,Dr. Sarath Amunugama, while Chairman of NSB, Pradeep Kariyawasam , made the welcome speech. , Governor of Central Bank,Ajith Nivard Cabraal delivered the keynote address and said retail banking was different from other banking systems.

He also said to meet this challenge, retail banks have to be conscious about access to markets by recruiting people with the necessary culture.