Associação Portuguesa de Bancos (APB - Portuguese Banking Association) is the main body representing the Portuguese banking sector. It was founded in 1984 to strengthen the financial system and its relationship with society and to help develop a more solid banking sector in touch with the country's needs and problems.

The APB counts most Portuguese banks and foreign banks operating in Portugal among its members. They represent around 94% of the assets in the banking system. The APB represents 25 of the 38 banks registered with Banco de Portugal.

Its purpose is to represent its members in relations with the authorities responsible for regulating banking activities and for drafting economic policy in order to help improve the regulatory system and the quality of banking services and to reduce risk levels. It also seeks to provide education and information on banking to the general public and encourage measures that lead to a better relationship between the banks and their customers and broader access for the public to financial products and services.

The APB's legal status is that of a private, non-profit business association set up pursuant to Decree-Law 215-C/75 of 30 April.

Membership of the APB is voluntary and, unlike some similar bank associations, it does not have delegated public powers. It acts solely on the basis of the powers invested in it by its members.

Object

The APB's object is to promote and perform all acts that may contribute to the technical, economic and social progress of its members' business activity and to the defence of their interests in relation to any public or private, Portuguese or foreign entities. The APB's remit also includes informing and educating the public on banking activity with a view to better use of bank products and services and a transparent relationship between the banks and society.

Institutions at which the APB is represented

EBF - European Banking Federation

Advisory Board of Instituto dos Actuários Portugueses
Comissão Normalização Contabilística
Conselho Nacional do Consumo
Conselho Económico e Social

National Board of Mercado de Valores Mobiliários
Advisory Board of CMVM
Advisory Committee Operacional da Interbolsa
General Advisory Committee of Interbolsa
Northern Region Coordinating Committee
Forum for Competitiveness - Associação para o Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Instituto dos Valores Mobiliários
Instituto do Direito Bancário (joint founder in 1996)

Monitoring Committee (1 and 2) of the National Plan for Financial Education

Banco de Portugal:
Advisory Board
Management Committee of the Deposit Guarantee Fund
Settlement Systems Forum
CISP - Interbank Committee for Settlement Systems
Interbank Cash Working Group