What We Do

Mission and values

The APB’s mission is to pursue and defend the common interests of its members. As such, its objective is to promote and perform all acts that enhance the technical, economic and social progress of the members' own activity and to the pursuit and defence of their interests with any public or private, national or foreign entities.

Specifically, the APB aims to:

• Defend the prestige of banking sector and contribute to a better understanding of its importance in the economy and society;
• Promote cooperation between members with a view to reaching convergent positions on matters of interest to the sector in order to improve the efficiency, quality and rationality of the banking system;
• Take an active role in the debate on changes to the sector's legal and regulatory framework, at both national and European level;
• Collaborate with other industry associations, including through membership of the European Banking Federation.

The APB’s actions are guided by the values of loyalty, honesty, impartiality, credibility, independence, discretion and good faith. In this regard, APB and its employees conduct themselves according to high standards of professional ethics, particularly by preventing and avoiding situations of conflict of interest, undue receipt of advantages, confusion between their professional and personal spheres, discrimination and harm to the physical and moral integrity of others.

Articles of Association

Code of Conduct

Where we are represented

By the nature of its activity, APB represents the banking sector in several bodies at national, European and international level. As such, the APB is represented in the following institutions:

International

• European Banking Federation (EBF) 
• European Money Markets Institute (EMMI)
• European Payments Council (EPC)
  
  

Domestic

Protocols

The APB has entered into several protocols, both cooperation and operational, with various partners.

Cooperation protocols

• Cooperation Protocol on the preparation of educational and teaching resources in support of the Financial Education Benchmark, between CNSF, APFIPP, APS, ASFAC and APB;
• Collaboration Protocol with the Directorate-General for Consumer Protection on financial literacy;
• Collaboration Protocol with the CTT Correios de Portugal to combat financial illiteracy;
• Cooperation Protocol between the APB and IDEFE (ISEG) for the dissemination of training programmes (Sustainable Finance: Green and Climate Finance Programme);
• Cooperation and Collaboration Protocol Agreement with the Angola Banking Association (ABANC);
• Cooperation and Collaboration Protocol Agreement with the Macau Banking Association (ABM);
• Cooperation and Collaboration Protocol Agreement with the São Tomé Banking Association (ASB);
• Cooperation and Collaboration Protocol between Commercial Banks of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Macau, signed by the Portuguese Banking Association (APB), the Macau Banking Association (ABM), the Mozambique Banking Association (AMB) and the São Tomé Banking Association (ASB) with the intention of "promoting commercial cooperation between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries";
• Letter of Commitment for Sustainable Financing in Portugal.

Operational protocols

• Protocol on the Provision of Information between Banks and Insurance Companies in relation to Life Insurance Associated with Home Loans, signed by the APB and the Portuguese Association of Insurers;
• Protocol on Mortgage Cancellation between Credit Institutions and the APB.
• Protocol on energy efficiency in buildings signed between the APB and ADENE

Banking Training Institute (IFB)

The Banking Training Institute (IFB) is an integral part of the APB, with the mission of contributing to the greater and better qualification of professionals in the sector.

Continuously promoting the development of Financial Institutions’ human resources, the IFB has a wide range of training programs, aimed at the most varied profiles, which is constantly updated and expanded with topics corresponding to technological and knowledge developments.

With more than 40 years of experience, the IFB operates across a very broad spectrum, which includes initial training, continuous training, certifications and executive education.

Alongside this scope, IFB is recognised as having an unusual capacity and flexibility to develop solutions tailored to the specific needs of each institution.

This flexibility and adaptability, which allows a high-quality response to challenges, is also evident in the modes it offers, including in-person training, videoconference training, e-learning and blended solutions.

In carrying out its mission, the IFB has an experienced team of internal staff, complemented by a wide range of external staff, who are carefully selected and have recognised technical know-how, combining theoretical knowledge with professional experience relevant to the training they provide.

The IFB’s catalogue includes the following areas, which you can learn more about by visiting the website:

• Initial, Continuous and Professional Development Training
  This area covers a varied range, which meets the needs of mandatory and regulatory training, as well as the most diverse thematic areas and professional profiles in the Banking and Financial sector.
• Professional Development Training in specific areas for Senior Management
  Senior Management Training courses are available in this area, aimed at preparing executives for performing duties on Management and Supervisory Bodies and as Key Function Holders.
• Advanced Development Training in specific areas for management positions
  This area offers courses aimed at updating and deepening knowledge in specific domains inherent to the performance of management functions in banking and financial institutions.
• Short specialised training events
  In this context, the aim is to address emerging topics through events of a very specialised nature, meeting the criteria of high quality, short duration and timeliness.