May 23-24th, 2002 in Beijing, China members of the World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI) gathered for its 9th General Assembly. WSBI is a non-government organization founded in 1924. It unites savings banks and their associations around the world. WSBI headquarters is located in Brussels. Currently WSBI has more than 100 members from 91 countries. Savings banks in many countries represent credit institutions that are the pillars of these countries' banking systems, having taken leading positions in the main segments of the financial markets and radically influencing economic development.
Sberbank is a full member of WSBI since 1992. 
Mr. Andrei I. Kazmin, Chaiman of the Board and CEO of Sberbank, is also Vice-President of WSBI. The leaders of the WSBI-member savings banks met in Beijing for this representative international forum. The Russian banking community was represented by Mr. Andrei I. Kazmin, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Sberbank and Vice-President of WSBI. Mr. Kazmin's report showed the achievements of Sberbank for the past few years and described in detail the topic of microfinance which is a topic issue for Russia. In particular, Sberbank's leader shared with his colleagues the Bank's experience in working with small and medium-sized businesses.
During the Plenary Session of the 9th WSBI General Assembly and its workshops delegates discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest. Among other topics, WSBI activities for the passed year were assessed and future ways of business cooperation among savings banks were drafted. In addition, delegates exchanged views on such problems as the role of savings banks in realization of large-scale social projects, consequences for WSBI-member savings banks of the adoption of the New Basle Capital Accord and forming of a general model of savings banks activities in microfinance. 
The GA participants also considered other important matters in connection with the perspectives of WSBI development as an international institution. Particularly, during presentations by representatives of national banks - members of WSBI and the discussion that followed it was stressed that a more tight interaction between savings banks and international financial institutions is needed as well as the WSBI influence on the financial markets of developing countries.
During the 9th General Assembly the new President of WSBI was elected - Mr. Holger Berndt (Germany), former Vice-President of the Institute. New Vice-President is Mr. Jose Antonio Olavarrieta Arcos (Spain). Other Vice-Presidents are Mr. Andrei I. Kazmin (Russia), Ms. Eulalia Arboleda de Montes (Colombia) and Mr. Charnchai Musignisarkorn (Thailand). The next WSBI General Assembly will be held next year and the World Congress of Savings Banks will be in Madrid in March 2003. 

Sberbank Press Service May 24, 2002