The Financial Times, in partnership with [ASrIA member] IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has launched the 2010 edition of the FT Sustainable Banking Awards, the leading programme recognising banks and other financial institutions for leadership and innovation in integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into their operations.

Now in their fifth year, the Awards come at a crucial time, as the world grapples with the challenge of climate change, the financial and social impact of the global economic downturn, particularly on the world's poor, and the continued under-supply of basic needs such as food, water and energy.

The 2010 Awards are also launched as the financial industry begins to emerge from the worst crisis since the Great Depression, amid sustained debate over whether the traditional models of banking and investment should shift in favour of more transparent businesses that demonstrably deliver value to society and actively consider environmental impact while adding to the financial bottom line.

To underline these persistent concerns, the 2010 Awards for the first time maintain the categories of the previous year, emphasising the continuing need to address the plight of those at the Bottom of the Pyramid as well as highlight the scarcity of essential goods across society.

Entries will be accepted until February 28, 2010 in the following categories:

Sustainable Bank of the Year
Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year
Achievement in Basic Needs Financing
Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Sustainable Investor of the Year

The awards for Achievement in Basic Needs Financing, Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid, and Sustainable Investor of the Year, are open to all financial institutions, including non-banks. The other two categories are open only to banking institutions.

As in previous years, the overall Emerging Markets award winner will be chosen among the winners of four Regional Leadership awards covering Africa/Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

A high-level judging panel will select short-lists for each category in April 2010. The winners will be announced and the awards presented on June 3, 2010 at a gala dinner at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in London attended by senior bankers and decision-makers in the area of sustainability.

The dinner will conclude the 2010 FT Sustainable Banking Conference, the major annual one-day summit on sustainable banking and finance that will gather on June 3, 2010 some of the world's most renowned visionaries, strategists and financial decision-makers.

The judging panel for the Awards will be co-chaired by Martin Dickson, Deputy Editor of the Financial Times, and Rachel Kyte, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC, and will feature the following leading figures involved in sustainable finance and development:

David Harris, Manager, Responsible Investment, FTSE Group
Richard Laing, Chief Executive, CDC Group Ltd
Elizabeth Littlefield, CEO, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
Herman Mulder, international sustainable development advisor

Leading consultancy Sustainable Finance Ltd will again be technical advisors.

The Awards have continued to grow in popularity since their launch in 2006. In the 2009 programme, 165 entries were received from 117 institutions in 42 countries.

Triodos Bank of the Netherlands was named Sustainable Bank of the Year, while Itau Unibanco of Brazil took the overall Emerging Markets prize.

The 2009 winners and runners-up in each category were:

Sustainable Bank of the Year

Winner: Triodos Bank, Netherlands
Runner-up: Standard Chartered, UK

Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year

Winner: Itau Unibanco, Brazil
Regional winner Africa/Middle East: Equity Bank, Kenya
Regional winner Asia: Industrial Bank, China
Regional winner Eastern Europe: Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB)
Regional winner Latin America: Itau Unibanco, Brazil

Achievement in Basic Needs Financing

Winner: MicroEnsure, UK
Runner-up: Water Capital, Mexico

Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid

Winner: Root Capital, US
Runner-up: WIZZIT, South Africa

Sustainable Investor of the Year

Winner: Global Environment Fund, US
Runner-up: E+Co, US

For entry forms and more details on the Sustainable Banking Awards and
Conference, please visit: www.ftconferences.com/sustainablebanking or call
Jeff Wagner Tel: +852 2230 5826 Email: jeff.wagner@ft.com