For Leaders

Bringing ethics to life with the BFSO

The Banking and Financial Services Oath (BFSO) is a unique initiative that seeks to strengthen the ethical standards of financial services through the empowerment of individuals making a personal commitment of integrity.

This commitment guides ethical behaviour, encourages individuals to hold themselves to account and creates a supportive environment. The benefits of taking The Oath can be felt both by the individual and by their organisation.

For the individual, the BFSO produces regular content to promote ethical discussions, provides opportunities for Oath takers to connect, and has a dynamic Young Ambassador program to support and grow the capabilities of early career professionals. Mulitple approaches can also be taken by the organisation that are tailored to your needs, utilize your existing tools/content, and adapted with conversations and ideas.

group of young people sitting in a circle of chairsEmployee engagement

  • Workshops - experiential learning
  • Panel disccusions - with leaders (from within or outside your organisation) / regulators / academics
  • In conversation - private sharing of when you got it wrong
  • Impact measurement - ask employees to record a time where a decision was difficult, why/how did they address it, and the outcome.
  • Leadership - give employees permission to call out hypocrisy where values are not being lived. 

Ethics as an artefact

  • BFSO email signature
  • Signatory certificates
  • BFSO digital cards
  • LinkedIn professional certificates

Additional resources

  • Introductory pack and implementation guide for embedding the BFSO.
  • Presentation packs and facilitation guides for graduates and managers
  • several publications shaping business practices with ethics. 
Links and Downloads
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The Oath

  • Trust is the foundation of my profession.
  • I will serve all interests in good faith.
  • I will compete with honour.
  • I will pursue my ends with ethical restraint.
  • I will help create a sustainable future.
  • I will help create a more just society.
  • I will speak out against wrongdoing and support others who do the same.
  • I will accept responsibility for my actions.
  • In these and all other matters;
    My word is my bond.