The
Hellenic Bank Association (HBA) is a non-profit legal entity
of private law representing Greek and foreign credit institutions
operating in Greece. It was founded in 1928 and today has
28 members, of which 21 are regular and 7 associated. The
HBA seeks to:
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promote the Greek banking
and financial system and to contribute to the development
of the Greek economy, |
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protect and represent the interests
and rights of its member banks, and |
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undertake the amicable and out-of-court
settlement of disputes between its member banks and
parties in transaction therewith. |
Its statutory organs are the General Assembly, the Board
of Directors, the Executive Committee and the Secretary
General, while the Legal Council, the Economic Experts Council
and the Scientific Council support its activities.
Its activities have, mainly, three dimensions,
i.e. institutional, developmental and social. In its institutional
role, the HBA contributes in a consultative capacity to
regulatory issues, by participating in the formulation of
legislative proposals or in technical committees at European
and national level, promotes the positions of its members
to the competent authorities and monitors the regulatory
provisions concerning the operations of the Greek banking
and, in general, financial system.
In its developmental role, it fosters bilateral
and multilateral relations with other financial-sector associations
in Greece and abroad, encourages the establishment of interbank
bodies or other legal entities that aim at the promotion
of the Greek banking system, is active in the development
of training courses for its member banks and their clients.
Additionally, it develops relations with local productive
forces and contributes to the development of interbank payment
systems and the expansion of electronic banking services.
It also fosters participation in European Projects, offers
training through its Hellenic Banking Institute, conducts
surveys and research, produces a number of publications
(including its quarterly HBA Bulletin and more specialized
studies on legal and economic issues relating to the banking
system) and explores ways to improve physical securing of
banking network and banking transactions.
In its social role, the HBA enhances public
awareness vis-a-vis the Greek banking and financial system,
promotes the concept of corporate social responsibility
and takes initiatives in the field of business ethics.
Furthermore, it addresses problems related
to consumer protection, creates and develops mechanisms
for settling disputes out of court between private customers/investors
and banks via the services offered by the Hellenic Ombudsman
for Banking-Investment Services (Banking Ombudsman), encourages
the contribution of the banking system to Sustainable Development
and also keep banks informed of labour and social issues. |