In response to a number of requests from institutions across the financial sector, the deadline for entries to the FT Sustainable Banking Awards 2008, the leading global awards for triple bottom line banking created by the Financial Times in partnership with IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank, has been extended to March 10, 2008.

This is the absolute final deadline for entries, and no further extension will be possible.

Now in their third year, the FT Sustainable Banking Awards recognise financial institutions that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating social, environmental and corporate governance objectives into their operations.

Applications are being accepted in the following five categories:

- Sustainable Bank of the Year
- Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year
- Sustainable Deal of the Year
- Award for Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid
- Sustainable Investor of the Year

The first three categories are open only to banking institutions, while Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid and Sustainable Investor of the Year, two new categories for 2008, are open to all financial sector participants.

Each category will have a shortlist of five finalists -- except Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year, where the winner will be chosen from four banks awarded prizes for regional leadership in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Middle East/Africa respectively. Three banks will be short-listed for each regional award.

For Awards entry forms, please visit
www.ftconferences.com/sustainablebanking.

The FT Sustainable Banking Awards will be presented at a special dinner in London on June 3, 2008. The dinner will be preceded by the 2008 FT/IFC Sustainable Banking Conference, which has become a major event on the international banking calendar following the success of the inaugural conference last year.

Leading consultancy Sustainable Finance Limited is again technical advisor for the awards. The judging panel is co-chaired by John Willman, UK Business Editor for the Financial Times, and Rachel Kyte, Director of Environment and Social Development, IFC, and features leading figures involved in sustainable finance and development, including Elizabeth
Littlefield, CEO of CGAP; David Harris, Manager, Responsible Invesment at FTSE Group; Richard Laing, Chief Executive of CDC Group; Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources Institute (WRI); and Tessa Tennant, co-founder of the Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA).