Apropos Coop Banking
Closing the Financial Literacy Gap:
The Cooperative Banking Contribution
Monday, 21 September 2026, 16:00 -17:30 CEST
Financial literacy is a key enabler of informed participation in the financial system, with important implications for households, SMEs and Europe’s broader economic objectives. Against the backdrop of the EU Financial Literacy Strategy and efforts to strengthen Europe’s Savings and Investment Union, this edition of the Apropos Coop Banking webinar series will explore approaches to advancing financial literacy across Europe and the cooperative banking contribution in this area.
This Apropos Coop Banking webinar provides an opportunity to consider how the cooperative principle of education, training and information is translated into financial education activities.
Bringing together senior cooperative bankers and policymakers at EU and OECD levels, the webinar will examine practical approaches to financial education, the cooperative banking contribution to member and community engagement, as well as the policy and regulatory conditions needed to support effective collaboration and high-quality initiatives.
The discussion will draw international perspectives and cross-country evidence, including insights from the OECD, while highlighting concrete initiatives developed by cooperative banks to reach diverse audiences and ensure content neutrality. By connecting practical experience with the current policy thinking, the event will also foster a timely dialogue on barriers to financial literacy, good practices and expectations regarding the European Commission’s forthcoming initiatives in this area.
Programme
Welcome
Nina Schindler, Chief Executive Officer, EACB
Setting the Scene: Cooperative Principles, Member Education and Engagement in Financial Literacy
Priscille Szeradzki, President, EACB & Chief Executive Officer, Confédération Nationale du Crédit Mutuel
Keynote: Financial Literacy – The OECD Perspective
OECD Representative
Testimonials: Financial Literacy in Practice at Cooperative Banks
Cooperative Bank Practitioners
Moderator: Juan Lopez, Head of the Research Department, Federcasse
Panel: Shaping European Financial Literacy Policy – Barriers, Good Practices & Expectations
Andrea Beltramello, Head of the Savings and Investments Union
Coordination unit, European Commission
OECD Representative
Cooperative Bank Practitioners
Moderator: Juan Lopez, Head of the Research Department, Federcasse
Closing
Nina Schindler, Chief Executive Officer, EACB