A New Ethos in Banking

“The New Ethos in Banking by Rik Coeckelbergs invites readers to reflect on the essential role of ethics in banking. With a thoughtful exploration of values-driven transformation, this book serves as an inspiring guide for financial professionals dedicated to restoring confidence and grasping the true essence of banking in a rapidly evolving environment.”

—Hedwige Nuyens, CEO, International Banking Federation

“In The New Ethos in Banking, Rik Coeckelbergs presents a powerful vision for the future of banking, where values and the bank’s social contract with society take centre stage. His insights underscore the need for meaningful transformation, with responsibility and integrity as key drivers of success. A must-read for leaders committed to building a more trusted financial industry.” 

—Charles McManus, CEO, ClearBank

The financial services industry has one constant lately - change. What are the lessons of the past 25 years, and what can be done better in the future, especially when it comes to digital transformation and sustainability? This book investigates how change is impacting banking and the industry’s reputation, exploring what a new ethos in banking should look like, and, more importantly, the needed contributions from the industry to the road ahead. Based on interviews with industry leaders and the author's own personal experience, this book guides decision-makers in a new direction, a positive alternative to the status quo. The book is an urgent call to action, with practical and relevant insights to improve a bank’s societal footprint beyond the required compliance and regulatory efforts into sustainability, transparency, and ethics in banking. It will inspire those that look for successful stakeholder models without ignoring shareholder interests, putting people and society first, and understanding this can only work with a healthy financial model.

Rik Coeckelbergs is the Founder and Managing Director of The Banking Scene, a network organisation for bankers. He is passionate about building communities, conceptualising ideas, and enabling sustainable business models. Before his entrepreneurial journey, Rik worked for more than 10 years in the financial services industry in various roles, both as an external consultant and in internal roles in business, strategy, and marketing. In 2009, he created a LinkedIn community called “Innovation In Payments.” With more than 125,000 members today, it is the most prominent payments group worldwide. Rik is a regular blogger on thebankingscene.com, a guest writer for third-party websites, and a commentator in the national press.