There is a rhythm to life. There is also melody. 

The Savings Hymn, or "Hymn of Thrift", brings both to life.

For 90 years, the WSBI hymn has touched the lives of people around the world, both young and old. That's why WSBI commissioned in 2018 to resurrect this musical gem and share it during World Savings Day held every year on 31 October.

A way to promote the virtue of thrift, the hymn’s uplifting melody and intricate piano phrasing was first written and performed in 1928 with Italian lyrics. The hymn came back to life on 13 June 2018 by a pair of Brussels-based musical artists: Colombian-born opera soprano Amalia Avilia and Italian pianist Caterina Roberti.

Savings Hymn

This is episode 5 of WSBI-ESBG Exchange podcast, which features World Savings Day 2018. WSBI is once again at the helm for World Savings Day. The association of savings and retail banks from some 80 countries around the world in 2018 approaches the World Savings Day campaign from a more charming and imaginative approach. WSBI's Matthia Sorrentino tells listeners about what's in store for 2018 (01:10). Also on this podcast is WSBI archivist Nancy Lockkamper, who tells more about the history of World Savings Day (07:34).

2018 WORLD SAVINGS DAY THEME: WHAT DO YOU WISH FOR?
Just like in Snow White and the Sleeping Beauty, all people have hope and wishes for the future. Savings help people make those wishes come true. This is why “What do you wish for?" is this year's World Savings Day coming 31 October.

As savings are a path making hopes and dreams come true, WSBI has developed this year a revamped website for World Savings Day coming 31 October. Its main aim is to better showcase how important and multifaceted this event is with celebrations happening all over the world. You can also find more information on the history of World Savings Day, as well as highlights from previous years’ celebrations. The association and its more than 100 members are gearing up to celebrate peoples' efforts to save and realise their dreams. 

By means of inspiring visuals and promotional videos, the global association will be using the hashtags #WhatDoYouWishFor? and #WorldSavingsDay2018 to share content on Twitter. They invite people to share with @WSBI_ESBG how their hopes and wishes come true through savings and most notably what is the dream they are saving for. All of this is spelled out on the 2018 Campaign dedicated webpage at the WSBI World Savings Day website you can see below.

WEBSITE: WORLD SAVINGS DAY 2018
www.world-savings-day.org

KICK-OFF EVENT IN BRUSSELS
WSBI will hold on Wednesday, 24 October in Brussels a special kickoff event. Starting at 11 am that day at WSBI Offices in Brussels, WSBI staff, members, and stakeholders will celebrate World Savings Day with WSBI. The mid-morning event will kick off with opening remarks by WSBI Managing Director Chris De Noose and other special guests to decode the difficulty of financial education and steps to take to help more people to navigate oftentimes complex financial decisions throughout faced throughout life. During the event, WSBI will showcase promotional videos made for the campaign. At least three videos to be exact. They have been recorded in three different languages -- English, French and Spanish -- to appeal and reach a wider audience. In the videos, my younger colleagues here at WSBI will appear. They explain this year’s campaign and how it works; they share their wishes and finally, they invite viewers to let their creativity run free. 

If you are in Brussels that day, don’t miss out. RSVP  by Monday, 22 October to: worldsavingsday@wsbi-esbg.org

WHY WORLD SAVINGS DAY IS IMPORTANT
For WSBI and its members, World Savings Day places added focus on the stabilising role played by savings and retail banking in the overall financial system. It evokes some of the ethos of local banks: responsible partners in communities, close to the customer, serving households, small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) and local authorities. WSBI member banks demonstrate their locally focused approach to banking through World Savings Day activities in the communities they serve. 

Examples of what's being done in countries around the world are available on the site. Those examples show that World Savings Day is good fun, educational and inclusive.

WORLD SAVINGS DAY HISTORY

For more information about WSBI and ESBG, go to our website, visit us on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. The podcasts are available on both Soundcloud and Youtube.

Podcast #5: World Savings Day on 31 October

The WSBI-ESBG Exchange podcast for Thursday, 7 February focuses on Europe and savings and retail banks there. They are driven to help Europeans prosper. Just how is outlined in a new memorandum released last week by ESBG – the European Savings and Retail Banking Group. It also looks at the upcoming Fintech Female Rountable on 13. March. And finally, the podcast digs into WSBI activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Podcast #6: ESBG memorandum, Fintech Female Roundtable, WSBI in Latin America

Episode 7 focuses on Africa and Scale2Save – a programme designed to establish the viability of small-scale savings in six African countries. It’s a partnership between WSBI and the Mastercard Foundation. WSBI Director Ian Radcliffe, who leads the Scale2Save programme, talks about the new Scale2Save report on savings and retail banking in Africa. He also touches on future research, the Scale2Save Peer Review Workshop in Kenya, and a snapshot of projects taking place on the ground.

Learn more about Scale2Save at https://www.wsbi-esbg.org/KnowledgeSharing/scale2save

Podcast#7: Scale2Save research on African savings and retail banks released

WSBI Exchange Podcast Episode #8 is a follow up on EU elections and the related ESBG memorandum released earlier this year. 

Sebastian Stodulka (01:15), who heads up our regulatory affairs department at ESBG, discusses the ESBG memorandum called “Together for a growing and more integrated Europe”. Released earlier this year, the 14-page document has eight sections that spell out the saving and retail banking association’s position on a host of issues. Sebastian talks about sections on sustainable finance and financial education. 

Natalie Staniewicz (13:17) follows with a talk on the digitisation and innovation and how it relates to EU policymaking.

BACKGROUND 
The European elections are in full swing, with 751 seats up for grabs in the European Parliament. As those elections take place, ESBG – the European Savings and Retail Banking Group – have published a "memorandum" filled with ideas designed to help policymakers in the quest fulfil Europeans' demands for prosperity in the coming years.

Podcast#8: EU elections, ESBG memorandum update

Episode # is the first in a series of podcasts on the ESBG handbook released earlier this month. 

As a new European Commission gets put in place, ESBG – the European Savings and Retail Banking Group – has published its handbook that outlines the savings and retail bank story and how to help Europeans prosper in the coming years. Joining us again in studio 4A is Sebastian Stodulka, who heads up our regulatory affairs department at ESBG. Sebastian joins host James Pieper for part 1 of a talk on the handbook - available at the ESBG website and at https://esbghandbook.wsbi-esbg.org/serving-all-european-citizens.

Part 2 highlights World Savings Day, with events taking place around the world, including Morocco, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Thailand and The Netherlands.

Part 3 of the podcast gives a preview of the Retail Banking Conference in Brussels. Taking place on 21 November, speakers include Andrea Enria, Chair, Single Supervisory Mechanism, European Central Bank, who will give an opening address. The ECB’s Vice President Luis De Guindos sets the tone for the sustainable finance panel. 

Like every podcast, we highlight news from the world of savings and retail banks in some 80 countries around the globe, including 26 members in 21 European countries.

Podcast#9: ESBG handbook released, Retail Banking Conference Preview, World Savings Day

WSBI’s Scale2Save team joins host James Pieper for Episode #11. 

Weselina Angelow, Céline Stevens and Ian Radcliffe give an update on Scale2Save programme, a partnership between WSBI and Mastercard Foundation to establish the viability of small-balance savings in six African countries.

LATEST SCALE2SAVE RESEARCH: YOUNG PEOPLE IN AFRICA
The podcast includes a conversion on new research published by WSBI in December 2019 on young people in Africa. Released under the Scale2Save programme, the research outlines ways to drive financial inclusion by reaching more African youth. Widening financial access in Africa remains a struggle, especially when it comes to staying ahead of surging growth in the numbers of young people.
 
NEW SCALE2SAVE PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
Weselina Angelow was appointed on 1 February 2020 as programme director, succeeding Ian Radcliffe who retires after 25 years of service at WSBI-ESBG.  She takes the helm at a great time, with projects in six countries.

SCALE2SAVE VIDEOS BRING TO LIFE SCALE2SAVE YOUNG PEOPLE RESEARCH
In addition to the report, there are four videos for the Scale2Save young people research available on youtube. The videos really bring the report to life with first-hand interviews from young people in Senegal. Those videos touch on savings, income and spending, along with a summary report. Just type in Scale2Save in YouTube search and click on the first video you see. 



We welcome listeners to learn more about Scale2Save. Just type in “Scale2Save” in your search engine to access more news and information. 

For more information about WSBI, go to our website, visit us on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. The podcasts are available on both Soundcloud and Youtube.

Podcast#11: Scale2Save update, new research on young people

Episode #12 is a special edition of WSBI-ESBG Exchange recorded on 31 January 2020. 

WSBI and ESBG are associations based in Brussels, Belgium, with a mission to help savings and retail banks thrive. We bring back to the studio Ian Radcliffe, who retired that day after a 26 year career at WSBI. Host James Pieper talks with Ian one last time about the future of banking, financial inclusion, and what you’ve learned after decades in the sector. 

Like every podcast, we highlight news from the world of savings and retail banks in some 80 countries around the globe.

Ian led WSBI's Scale2Save programme, a partnership between WSBI and Mastercard Foundation to establish the viability of small balance savings in six African countries. 

Ian’s retirement from WSBI marks an important moment. A bridge to WSBI’s past, part of its present AND future. Radcliffe is considered an architect of WSBI’s financial inclusion efforts.

Thanks for listening. For more information about WSBI, go to our website, visit us on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. The podcasts are available on both Soundcloud and Youtube.

Podcast#12: Parting thoughts with WSBI financial inclusion expert Ian Radcliffe

WSBI and ESBG are Brussels-based associations that help member savings and retail banks thrive, focus on providing service to local communities and boost SMEs. Learn more about WSBI-ESBG at wsbi-esbg.org.

WSBI-ESBG

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