Institute for Social Banking

That’s a wrap — Summer School 2025 has come to an end!

We’ve reached the final day on Friday, full of reflection, connection, and deep gratitude. Over the past days, we’ve learned so much, met so many incredible people, and experienced moments that surprised and inspired us. Most of all, we leave knowing we are not alone.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this journey possible:
💛 Our amazing participants
💛 The dedicated team and tireless volunteers
💛 Our members and supporters
💛 And last but certainly not least, GLS Bank — thank you for hosting this Summer School, co-organising it with us, welcoming us into your building, and making us feel truly at home.

Now we take a deep breath, carry the afterglow of what happened, and prepare to share more soon. We’re grateful beyond words. 🌞💫

💸 Day 4 of Summer School was all about the flow of money — and how finance can serve people and planet when guided by values.

From relational lending at Ekobanken, to transparent, participatory models at Freie Gemeinschaftsbank, to investing in nature-based solutions with Triodos, each workshop showed a different lens on Values-Based Finance.

GLS Investments challenged us to apply social and environmental criteria to real companies — sparking tough, honest debates. And Dr. Paul Gower reminded us that to fund a regenerative future, we need new tools, new thinking, and a strong evidence base.

One clear takeaway: finance is not just numbers — it’s relationships. 🌍💚

Day 3 of the Summer School brought us a surprising insight in the role of money in our work and personal life.

What happens when we stop treating money as a transactional device and start seeing it as a living relationship—one that can carry, empathy, and care just as easily as euros and dollars? What will change in our minds and in the way we live our lives?

Throughout the morning, we explored our relationship with money in four workshops and learned about different ways of letting money flow with purpose. These are the lessons learned:

1. Money is a mirror – Our financial behavior reflects inherited stories. Speaking about them helps us reconnect.
2. Money rooted in values – Finance grounded in dreams creates stability and trust, not weakness.
3. Gift money is transformative – Giving without expectation unlocks courage and human connection.
4. Regenerative money – When capital flows like nature—reciprocal and purposeful—it becomes life-giving.

“Dreams with deadlines” and “Love as due diligence” summed it up best: capital with care, attention as accountability.

Big thanks to Rita de Boer, Ugo Biggeri, Florian Mende, Hanna Merki, Jean-Pierre Caron, Sonia Reinhardt & Chai Locher for your wisdom and presence.

We wrapped up with the Fair Finance Fair, deep reflection—and yes, pizza in the garden. 🍕

🌿 Day 2 (Part 1) of Summer School: diving deep into ethical & regenerative finance 🌿

We started on a soulful note with blues from Wiendelt Hooijer, setting the tone for a day of big questions and bold ideas.

Mauro Meggiolaro (Fondazione Finanza Etica) walked us through the Ethical Finance Benchmark Report—highlighting how values-based banks are leading with responsible lending, supporting real communities, and calling for fairer regulations.

Zoran von Waldenfels (GLS Bank) invited us to reimagine finance as a living system. Regenerative finance isn’t just about “doing less harm”—it’s about actively healing. From soil to society, it’s time to rethink how we define success.

🌾 We ended the day on the land, visiting regenerative farms that are putting these ideas into action. Finance, grounded in life.

A strong start of the 2025 International Summer School on Social Banking & Sustainable Finance at GLS Bank in Bochum. As participants arrived from across the globe, the atmosphere was instantly alive with anticipation—for learning, connecting, and co-creating a more sustainable financial future. From soul-stirring music to thought-provoking keynotes, deep conversations, and shared meals—it was clear this week would be more than just a series of lectures. It would be an experience.
The day culminated with a deeply personal and thought-provoking keynote from Dirk Kannacher, Member of the Executive Team at GLS Bank and our host. Speaking from the heart, Dirk painted a rich and honest picture of the path we walk in this field—a journey marked by purpose, beauty, and, yes, also frustration. He reminded us that working in social banking means embracing contradictions while staying rooted in meaning.
Grateful for the energy, the questions, the people— and thank you Weleda for the shower gel that will give us a fresh start tomorrow.

📢 Registration for the 16th International Summer School is now open 📢

🌾 Are you passionate about transforming the financial sector into a force for good? Then join us from 29 June to 4 July 2025, for the International Summer School at the GLS Bank headquarters in Bochum, Germany, for a unique learning experience that will deepen your knowledge of social banking, sustainable finance, and Finance for a Regenerative Future.

👉 Registration through our website.

Why you should attend:
✨ Engage with Experts: Learn from global leaders and pioneers in sustainable finance who will share their insights and best practices.

🤝 Build Your Network: Connect with like-minded professionals, academics, and students committed to shaping a sustainable future.

📚 Inspire Change: Dive into workshops, lectures, and practical labs designed to equip you with the tools to make a lasting impact in the financial world.
The theme for the 16th International Summer School on Social Banking & Sustainable Finance is: Finance for a Regenerative Future.

🏛️ Venue: The GLS head office is a building rich with stories of over 50 years of best practices, and innovative approaches for the next 50 years.
Whether you’re a financial professional, academic, or a student eager to learn, this Summer School offers a comprehensive exploration of sustainable finance with human dignity at its core.

🔗 Don’t miss this opportunity! Register now and be part of a global movement driving positive change.

Let’s create a regenerative future together. 🌱

✨ Exciting News! ✨
Last week, the ISB team traveled to the GLS Head Office in Bochum, Germany, for the kick-off meeting of the 16th International Summer School 2025! 🌍✨

The visit felt like going back to our roots, as we reconnected with those who were part of the founding of the Institute 19 years ago and the very first Summer School, and alumni from the previous years.

That’s why we are excited to announce that this year’s Summer School will be held in the GLS head office, a building rich with stories of over 50 years of best practices and innovative approaches for the next 50-years. 🚀

A big thank you to Anne Talasch and Karima Rassam from our member GLS Bank for joining forces to make the 16th Summer School a week of inspiration, learning, and collaboration.

We’re exctited to welcome participants from 29 June to 4 July 2025 in the heart of Bochum. 🌿

📅 Mark your calendars! Registration opens on 16 October via our website.
We can’t wait to see you in Bochum next year!

Summer School 2024: it was amazing.
Thank you all, safe travels, enjoy summer and we will meet again.

🇦🇹The time has come.
After months of preparations the ISB team is settled in Vienna, getting ready to welcome all participants tomorrow at the start of the Summer School 2024.

We're excited to share that ISB recently hosted a visit from a group of visionary Japanese bankers! They are working on establishing the Social Bank Community (SBC) in Japan in 2024. Inspired by the mission and the vision of the ISB, Global Alliance for Banking on Values, GLS Bank, and Triodos Bank Nederland, SBC aims to create a society where NPOs and social businesses tackling social challenges can secure necessary funds and resources from local financial institutions.
Together, we're paving the way for a more inclusive and supportive financial ecosystem!

Bank

🌼 We had an incredible weekend celebrating GLS Bank's 50-year jubilee in Bochum! 💚
The workshops and panel speeches were exceptionally insightful, and it was inspiring to see the diverse range of customers GLS Bank serves. Congratulations to GLS Bank on this amazing milestone! Here's to many more years of pioneering social banking.

👉 read more here: https://buff.ly/4bIlgmI

⏳ Time's ticking! Just 48 hours left to join the International Summer School on Social Banking & Sustainable Finance in Vienna!

🌍💸 Don’t miss out on this chance to dive into sustainable finance and make a global impact.

👉 register here: https://buff.ly/3LQrN3N