Ethical Banking Leader Elected at FEBEA
The Cooperative Bank of Karditsa CEO now leads an organization representing European ethical banking interests.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Financial Services
Live Poll
Do you believe banks should prioritize environmental and social impact over maximizing financial returns?
Panagiotis Tournavitis has been elected president of the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers. He will lead the organization for a three-year term following his election on September 25, 2026.
Why it matters
As president of FEBEA, Tournavitis coordinates a collective voice for ethical financial institutions that focus capital on projects with specific social or environmental goals. This leadership shift impacts how member institutions leverage shared expertise and liquidity mechanisms.
The ethical and alternative banking sector manages €79 billion in total assets across FEBEA’s 30 member institutions. Tournavitis brings experience from his own Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, which serves 60,000 customers and holds approximately €400 million in assets.
The players
Panagiotis Tournavitis
The CEO of the Cooperative Bank of Karditsa and the newly elected president of FEBEA.
FEBEA
A Brussels-based federation representing over 30 ethical and alternative financial institutions across Europe.
Cooperative Bank of Karditsa
A Greek financial institution serving 60,000 customers with assets approaching €400 million.
The details
FEBEA functions as a coalition where members share technical expertise and pool resources to achieve a collective policy influence at the European level. The organization facilitates workshops that allow members with surplus liquidity to provide financing to peers with active funding needs. By directing capital specifically toward projects with measurable social or environmental outcomes, the federation distinguishes its operational model from traditional commercial banking.
Timeline
FEBEA was established in Brussels in 2001.
Tournavitis was elected president on September 25, 2026.
The presidential term runs from 2026 to 2029.
Market Landscape
This leadership shift reinforces the federation's role within the framework of the European Union's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. It highlights a broader trend where ethical banking institutions are professionalizing their collective lobbying and resource-sharing capabilities.
Operators in the ethical finance space should monitor the federation's upcoming policy stances, as these will likely signal new compliance thresholds or reporting norms. Reviewing how your own firm participates in peer-based liquidity sharing may identify opportunities for better capital utilization.
The takeaway
The election of a new president at FEBEA indicates a focus on strengthening the collaborative voice of ethical banks in Europe. Practitioners should keep track of how the federation's shared liquidity workshops evolve to identify potential new financing channels for impact-focused projects.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Financial Services section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greek City Times.
Live Poll
Do you believe banks should prioritize environmental and social impact over maximizing financial returns?
