International Banking Day

On December 19, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 74/245, designating December 4 as International Banking Day in recognition of the important potential of multilateral development banks and other international development banks in financing sustainable development. The resolution also recognizes the vital contribution of member states' banking systems to improving living standards.

Previously, in September 2015, the Assembly had set itself a number of goals. In the resolution entitled "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," it adopted a comprehensive set of far-reaching, people-centered, universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with a commitment to work tirelessly to achieve full implementation of the Agenda no later than 2030.

In the resolution, the Assembly further recognized that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest challenge facing the world and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The Goals seek to achieve sustainable development in three dimensions-economic, social and environmental-in a balanced and integrated manner. The Assembly is also committed to building on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and to addressing outstanding issues.