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A webinar on “Trade-Based Money Laundering and Managing International Financial Sanction Risks” was held on February 15, 2023. Bankers from Compliance, Foreign Transactions Operations Departments and branches which work intensively in marketing, financial institutions and foreign trade transactions attended to the webinar.Denizbank Financial Crimes Control and Monitoring Department Manager Alpaslan Çakır, ING Bank Financial Crime Compliance Department Director Fulya Kaptan and Halkbank Compliance Department Manager Arda Erkan took part as the speakers of the webinar whom completed "Countering Trade-Based Money Laundering" train the trainers advanced course by the International Finance Corporation.

The Council of Banks Associations of the Turkic States (CBATS) was established at a signing ceremony hosted by the Banks Association of Türkiye in Istanbul. Mehmet Ali Akben, Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, Alpaslan Çakar, Chairman of the Banks Association of Türkiye, Osman Çelik, Chairman of the Board of the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye, and the heads of bank associations of the Turkish States Organization Member countries attended the ceremony.After the agreement, Alpaslan Çakar was elected as the first Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Council, at its first meeting. Zakir Nuriyev, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Banks Association, was elected as the Deputy Chairman.President Çakar thanked the members of the Council and stated that they would make every effort to further develop their cooperation with the member states. Members agreed on developing correspondent relations, elaborating on technology and payment systems among banking sectors.Next meeting will be decided whether to be held in Azerbaijan or Uzbekistan in 2023.

A reception dinner was held by the Banks Association of Türkiye on the occasion of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings, representing the Turkish banking sector in Washington DC.Event was hosted by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alpaslan Çakar. Treasury and Finance Minister of Türkiye  Nureddin Nebati, Türkiye's Ambassador to Washington D.C. Hasan Murat Mercan, senior bureaucrats from many countries, representatives from international financial institutions and bankers attended to the reception.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy visited the Banks Association of Türkiye and met with the Chairman of the Board Alpaslan Çakar and the Members of the Board of Directors.

The Chairman of the Board of the Banks Association of Türkiye, Mr. Alpaslan Çakar made the opening speech at the World Arab Bankers Association Bankers Award Ceremony. In his speech, Mr. Çakar expressed his satisfaction that the annual ceremony was held in Istanbul. He said to support the strengthening of cooperation between countries, sectors and the Unions.Sheikh Mohammed Alsabbah, Honorary President of the World Arab Bankers Association, and Secretary General Dr. Wissam Fattouh presented a plaque to Mr. Alpaslan Çakar.At the ceremony, Secretary General of the Banks Association of Turkey Dr. Ekrem Keskin was also given an award for his contributions for the development of Turkish-Arab banking sector relations.During the night, 40 Arab and Turkish bankers were awarded for their achievements in various categories.

European Banking Federation's 53rd Associate Meeting was hosted in Istanbul by the Banks Association of Türkiye (BAT). The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Christian Ossig's speech. Representatives of the BAT presented the Turkish banking sector to the participants.During the meeting, presentations were made on topics such as sustainability, Basel III/IV, financial literacy, the impact of the war in Ukraine on the economy and good banking practices in the countries, and the evaluations of the participants were taken throughout the sittings.The European Banking Federation has members of 32 national Banking Associations from European countries. 3,500 banks are represented by these associations.

65th General Assembly Meeting of the Banks Association of Türkiye (BAT), was organized with the presence of Minister of Treasury and Finance Dr. Nureddin Nebati. In the opening part of the meeting, the BAT Chairman of the Board Mr. Alpaslan Çakar, Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Mr. Mehmet Ali Akben, Minister Dr. Nureddin Nebati delivered their speeches.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 2022-2023 period were discussed. After this session, an election was held where the members of the Board of Directors and Auditors of the Association was determined.Please click on the link to access the speech and presentation of Mr. Çakar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TBB.Please click on the link to access the video recordings of the speeches made in the opening part of the meeting.Please click on the link to access the results of the 65th General Assembly Elections.

Winner of the financial literacy competition organized by the Banks Association of Türkiye, Hatice Buse Ertekin; competed in the European Banking Federation's European Money Quiz contest.This year, children from 29 different countries took part in the European Money Quiz final, where participation was made remotely due to the pandemic.Mairead Mcguinness, the European Commissioner responsible for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, also participated in the opening part of the competition and gave a speech to the children.The finalists to participate in the EMQ are determined by national financial literacy competitions held in March and April each year by the associations of the members of the Federation. More than 50,000 children aged between 13-15 years old participated in financial literacy competitions held in 29 European countries this year.The questions in the competition, which was prepared by considering the financial capabilities indicated by the OECD; internet and social media security, budget, sustainability, financial decision making. It is aimed to increase children's interest in financial literacy with the competitions organized.

The International Finance Institute (IIF) member banks in Türkiye came together at a lunch organized by the Banks Association of Türkiye. CEO of the IIF Tim Adams shared information on current global developments and the members made comments on the developments in economy and banking sector and conveyed their questions.

The Chairman of the Board of the Banks Association of Turkiye Mr. Alpaslan Çakar met with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut. During the courtesy visit by Ambassador Meyer-Landrut, global and regional developments were discussed and information was shared about the Turkish economy and banking sector.   

The Chairman of the Banks Association of Türkiye, Mr. Alpaslan Çakar received Mr. Timothy Adams, President of the International Finance Institute. Current global developments, major issues in the finance sector and developments in the banking sector in Türkiye were discussed at the meeting. 

Treasury and Finance Minister Dr. Nureddin Nebati met with the Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Mehmet Ali Akben, the Chairman of the Board of the Participation Banks Association of Turkey İkram Göktaş and the Members of the Board of Directors of BAT at the meeting hosted by Alpaslan Çakar, Chairman of the Board of the Banks Association of Turkey (BAT).At the meeting, developments in the global and domestic economy and the banking sector were discussed. Minister Dr. Nebati shared information with the bankers regarding the new economic program and received their evaluations.It was stated that the aim of the meeting, where mutual views were exchanged, was healthy and stable growth performance.Banks, drawing attention to the recent developments in the financial markets in the country, have evaluated that; the Turkish banking sector, which operates at international standards with its strong balance sheet, liquidity and equity structure, advanced technological applications, carries out its activities uninterruptedly in line with its mission of creating sustainable value for the country's economy. And banks will continue to use their resources to meet the financial needs of households and the real sector within the free market mechanism.

Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Prof. Dr. Şahap Kavcıoğlu, Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Mehmet Ali Akben, Chairman of the Board of the Participation Banks Association of Turkey İkram Göktaş, met with the Members of the Board of Directors at the meeting hosted by the Banks Association of Turkey Chairman Alpaslan Çakar.At the meeting, developments in the global and domestic economy, markets and the banking sector were discussed. The meeting, where mutual views were exchanged, was very useful for making the practices more efficient.

Indonesian bankers visited the Banks Association of Turkey as a part of Indonesian Banking Development Institute's program for the bank managers in the country. The Banks Association of Turkey was introduced, a presentation on the Turkish economy and finance industry was shared with the Indonesian delegation.

Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Banks Association Zakir Nuriyev visited the Chairman of the Board of the Banks Association of Turkey Alpaslan Çakar.During the meeting, cooperation between the Associations and the role of banks in the development of the regional economy were evaluated.Conveying his congratulations on the 18 October Independence Day of Azerbaijan, Çakar said that they are ready to provide further support to improve cooperation between the banking sectors of the two countries.Çakar also thanked the Azerbaijan Banks Association, which donated saplings for the regeneration of forests damaged by fire disasters in the summer months.Nuriyev, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who stated that the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey and the Associations are maintained effectively and invited Çakar to Baku.