Banca Popolare Etica

Abstract

This chapter is a story of another Italy. It is an Italy that is unknown to most people, far removed from the scandals and media preoccupations that inevitably affect our perception of the reality. It is the story of a group of individuals who, day after day, work in the background in the pursuit of a better world, based on the ideals of social justice and common good. It is the story of Banca Etica, an Italian cooperative bank, which is first and foremost a community of people who have transformed the dream of ethical banking into a reality. This is the story of a successful bank whose activities consider important ethical issues, such as respect for the environment, solidarity, and responsible investing, while maintaining continuous and stable positive financial performance. This chapter is a tribute to those men and women who contributed to the creation and the development of Banca Etica, and also to everyone before and since who has nurtured an understanding of economics and business centred on the intrinsic human values.