European banks fail the world's poor - Campaign briefing

A poorly regulated, bonus driven banking sector is regarded as the main culprit of the current global economic turmoil. While banks face increasing criticism, the industry continues to lobby the European Commission to ensure Europe's trade deals give them greater access to developing country markets. The consequences could be disastrous as evidence shows that foreign banks are already failing the poor, leaving millions excluded from the essential financial services they require to build sustainable livelihoods.