International Day of Banks in the United States

International Day of Banks, recognized on December 4th, is a day established by the United Nations to acknowledge the significance of multilateral and international development banks in financing sustainable development. It is not a public holiday in the United States, and as such, it is not widely celebrated with specific traditions.

History

The UN General Assembly designated December 4th as International Day of Banks in 2019 with Resolution A/RES/74/245. The resolution acknowledges the vital role banks play in contributing to improvements in the standard of living across the globe through various forms of financial support for development projects.

Traditions

Since this commemoration does not have a long history and is more focused on institutional acknowledgment rather than public celebration, there are no established traditions per se. Instead:

• Banks and Financial Institutions: They might engage in dialogues about sustainable finance, host seminars or workshops on economic development topics, or release reports on their progress towards supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs).

• Industry Professionals: Economists, bankers, and finance professionals may participate in conferences or panel discussions highlighting the importance of banking systems to global development.

• General Public: While there are no traditional activities for individuals, awareness about the day could lead people to educate themselves on sustainable banking practices or consider how their personal banking choices align with sustainable development.

Activities

On International Day of Banks, activities are usually more focused at an institutional level than at a public level. However, some possible engagements include:

• Promoting financial literacy and education.
• Discussions about improving access to banking services for underserved communities.
• Highlighting initiatives by banks that support economic growth and sustainability.