News

The Egyptian banker delegation came to Istanbul for the Global Trends and Best Practices in SME Finance Tour in cooperation with the Banking Institute of the Central Bank of Egypt. During the week-long program, the delegation will visit banks, meet with representatives of KOSGEB and the Credit Guarantee Fund, and receive information about the current works and experiences in SMEs.

A banking sector presentation meeting was held at the Banks Association of Turkiye for the trade attachés, investment consultants and trade commisioners working at foreign countries’ consulates in Turkiye. Representatives from 20 different countries were informed about the Turkish economy and banking sector and their questions were answered.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tajikistan Banks Association Salimova Lola visited the Turkish Banks Association. During the meeting, ideas were exchanged on the development of cooperation between the banking sectors of the two countries.

A meeting was held with the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council. The Banking Association of Turkiye was introduced to the Council Chairman Daniel R. Fung and his delegation, and the latest developments in the economy and banking sector were presented. Sides exchanged ideas on possible areas of cooperation between institutions and countries at the meeting.

The Banks Association of Turkiye hosted a reception event during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings held in Washington, D.C.Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, Deputy Minister Osman Çelik, Central Bank Governor Dr. Fatih Karahan, Washington Ambassador Sedat Önal, representatives from international banks and other financial institutions, bureaucrats, bankers and Turks residing in Washington were present at the event. 

The Banking Association of Turkiye (BAT) participated in the European Banking Federation's 60th Partners Meeting.BAT Sustainability and Special Projects Director Pelin Ataman Erdönmez, who participated in the meeting in Brussels, made a presentation on the latest developments in the Turkish economy and banking sector, studies carried out by the Association and the sector on sustainability, digitalization, combating black money, and financial literacy.Participants made presentations on the recent activities of their associations and shared their expectations for the upcoming period. 

Central Bank of Sri Lanka the delegation visited the Banks Association of Turkey. The delegation was informed about the Turkish banking sector, the financial literacy activities of the Association and the activities of the Risk Center during the visit.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Banks Association of Turkey, Alpaslan Çakar, attended the ‘2024 Arab Banking Conference’ organized under the auspices of the Central Bank of Qatar on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Arab Banks Association.The panels held during the conference held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on September 10-11 addressed the issues of sustainable development and the need for finance in the Arab region, the role of financial markets, institutions and instruments in financing development, financial technologies for sustainable finance, climate finance and environmental sustainability.The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Banks Association of Turkey, Alpaslan Çakar, who attended the conference as a guest of honor, held bilateral meetings with his colleagues and signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Banks Association, Muhammed El Etrebi, in order to increase technological advances, environmental, social and governance studies, information exchange, professional development and encourage cooperation between the banking sectors with the banks in the region.Signing the agreement on behalf of the Banks Association of Turkey, President Çakar said, “This agreement will deepen the exchange of information between the banking sectors as well as expand the area of mutual benefit through joint studies, workshops and conferences. We attach importance to strengthening cooperation between our associations. Developing relations in the fields of finance and banking will contribute to the growth of trade between the countries in the region and will bring new opportunities for business people operating in this region.”Alpaslan Çakar also thanked the Arab Banks Association, which has become the largest banking and finance consortium in the region in its 50th year, and Muhammed Mahmut El-Etrebi for their contributions to the development of relations and wished it to be beneficial for all parties.

The 67th General Assembly Meeting of the Banks Association of Turkey (BAT) was held with the presence of the Minister of Treasury and Finance Mr. Mehmet Şimşek. In the opening speeches of the meeting were given by the BAT Chairman Alpaslan Çakar, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Chairman Prof. Dr. Şahap Kavcıoğlu, and Minister Mehmet Şimşek.General Assembly was conducted with the participation of member banks. During the meeting the activity report and the 2024-2025 period budget were discussed. After the meeting, the election where the Association's Board of Directors and Auditors has been done.Click on the link to access the speech and presentation made by the Chairman Mr. Çakar.Click on the link to access the 67th General Assembly Election results.

"Turkey Sustainable Finance Forum" was held on May 10, in cooperation with the Banks Association of Türkiye and the International Finance Institute (IIF).The opening speeches of the meeting held at the Istanbul Finance Center, Ziraat Bank Auditorium were made by Tim Adams, President of the International Finance Institute, and Alpaslan Çakar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Banks Association of Türkiye, while the presentation was made by Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance, who attended the Forum as a special speaker.In the panels titled "Sustainable Finance to Support Economic Development", "Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy", "The Future of Banking on the Path to Net Zero", the importance of transition finance in promoting long-term and inclusive economic development towards a net zero future in Turkey was put under the spotlight.During the forum, senior executives from financial institutions actively operating in Türkiye discussed progress in financial sector transition planning and the need for international harmonization in policy and regulation to create an enabling environment.

The fourth meeting of the Council of Banks Associations of Turkic States was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The meeting was hosted by the Uzbekistan Banking Association. At the CBATS Meeting, members were briefed on the last year's works and achievements. Members shared their agendas and the next year's work plan was done.As well as the meeting, a conference on Financial Trends was also organised by the host. The conference discussed financial technologies, fraud prevention and Islamic banking.

Climate Risk Management and Green Financing online conference was organized by the Banks Association of Türkiye (BAT) on the 17th of January 2024.Head of Strategy Department of Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Dr. İlker Koç and the Banks Association of Türkiye Secretary General Dr. Ekrem Keskin delivered the openning speeches of the conference.Following the opening speeches, Özge Kaptanoğlu, Deputy Manager of Türkiye İş Bankası Investor Relations and Sustainability Department shared her remarks from the COP28 with the participants.Through out the conference, at the panels titled "Climate Risks and Trends", "Turkey's Current Situation in Renewable Energy Financing and Green Hydrogen" and "Financing SME/Non-SME Companies"; latest trends, good practice examples both in Turkey and the world on the axis of climate risk management and green financing were addressed.In the "Climate Risks and Trends" panel moderated by Yapı Kredi Bank Credit Risk Policies and Governance Manager Hayri Türkmen, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Senior Banking Chief Expert Berk Mesutoğlu, BAT Sustainability and Special Projects Director Pelin Ataman Erdönmez, Turkish Development and Investment Bank Investment Banking, Project Evaluation, Sustainability and Corporate Communications Deputy General Manager Seçil Yıldız and HSBC Climate Risks Regional Manager Rohit Bhan were present.Ontario Technical University and Yıldız Technical University Faculty Member and Hydrogen Technologies Association President Prof. Dr. İbrahim Dinçer shared his presentation titled "Turkey's Current Situation in Renewable Energy Financing and Green Hydrogen at the panel moderated by Turkish Industrial Development Bank Sustainability Coordinator Ayşe Nazlıca.The panel titled "Financing of SME/Non-SME Companies (Country Experience Sharing of International Institutions)" was moderated by Şekerbank Financial Institutions and Investor Relations Unit Manager Oya Sarı, included European Banking Federation Sustainable Growth Finance Director Burçak İnel and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Turkey Deputy Director Oksana Yavorskaya.Approximately 200 participants from banks, financial institutions and related institutions followed the conference.

66th General Assembly Meeting of the Banks Association of Türkiye (BAT) was organized with the presence of Minister of Treasury and Finance Mr. Mehmet Şimşek. The BAT Chairman of the Board Mr. Alpaslan Çakar and Minister Mr. Mehmet Şimşek delivered the openning speeches of the Meeting.Chairman Mr. Çakar shared a presentation on the developments in the world, Turkey and the banking sector with the participants. Please click here for the opening speech of the Chairman.In the General Assembly part of the meeting, which was held with the participation of member banks, the annual report and the budget for the 2023-2024 period were discussed.

The second meeting of The Council of Banks Associations of the Turkic States was held in Baku on June 13, 2023, hosted by the Azerbaijan Banks Association. At the meeting, the development of financial and banking ecosystem, innovative solutions in finance, digital financial technologies, strengthining of cooperation in the fields of education and security were discussed.On the occasion of the meeting, the members of The Council of Banks Associations of the Turkic States visited Taleh Kazimov, the Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.

The second meeting of The Council of Banks Associations of the Turkic States was held in Baku on June 13, 2023, hosted by the Azerbaijan Banks Association. At the meeting, the development of financial and banking ecosystem, innovative solutions in finance, digital financial technologies, strengthining of cooperation in the fields of education and security were discussed.On the occasion of the meeting, the members of The Council of Banks Associations of the Turkic States visited Taleh Kazimov, the Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.