Social Banking and Social Finance

Abstract

This small volume provides a concise introduction to contemporary social banking and social finance. Written in a short and easily understandable manner, it explains the history, the philosophy, the current state, and the perspectives of social banking and social finance. It describes their place within the global economy and the visions of their “global alliances” for the years to come. The focus is on the basic mindset that gave birth to social banks about a century ago, and that still constitutes their main driving force in the age of globalization, and on the comparison of the current state of social banking in the United States and Europe. Since most social banks are found on both sides of the Atlantic, their interplay can be considered as instructive also regarding the worldwide development of social finance. This volume consists of three parts. Part 1: Social banks have been among the most successful financial institutions worldwide during the economic crisis of 2007–2010 and have emerged strengthened by it. Therefore, the volume provides a short analysis of this crisis from the viewpoint of social banking and social finance. Part 2: It then describes the main ideas and methods of social banking as new approaches to money and finance, capable of re-orienting the financial system in order to avoid further crises. Part 3: Finally, it draws the perspective of how social banking and social finance – as integral parts of the growing global civil society and the broader international movement toward sustainability – may work together with the mainstream banking and finance industry by serving as “best practice” examples in selected fields.