This year Davos’ World Economic Forum (WEF) once more brought together world leaders, experts and thinkers to discuss the big economic matters that invite global concern. Over the course of the global event’s tight agenda, there was room for the inclusion and education of woman in financial affairs.

Europe’s banks want an active role for the financial sector in the fight against climate change. They are asking Brussels to draw up an urgent plan based on the recommendations of the European Union’s High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance.

BBVA has been selected to join the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index 2018, which recognizes companies’ achievements in gender equality policies, both regarding their employees and in support of social initiatives, along with their offering of products and services that prioritize this commitment. Garanti Bank, part of the BBVA Group, has also been included in the index.

Goodwill Central Texas will open a new hub for financial education as part of the future Goodwill Career and Technical Academy, with funding generously provided by the BBVA Compass Foundation. The BBVA Compass Center for Financial Education will break ground in late 2018.

Many sectors are already exploring the potential applications of Blockchain, a technology that according to experts could have an impact comparable to that of the internet. Beyond the famous cryptocurrencies, there is no longer any doubt that the uses of this technology can improve society, and several social enterprises are demonstrating it through interesting projects.

Sustainable Development is essential to achieving more peaceful and just societies and the United Nations counts on the private sector to help in this effort. The BBVA Microfinance Foundation (BBVAMF) has contributed its experience in the finance sector to the report entitled “Business and SDG 16: contributing to peaceful, just and inclusive societies,” drawn up by the Sustainable Development Goals Fund and the University of Pennsylvania.

Putting up a new calendar and starting a new year means taking stock of past achievements and setting new goals. In the area of Responsible Banking, BBVA is ready to take on new challenges, in order to continue making strides in responsible financing, digital transformation, human rights and other important areas.

In October, BBVA Compass joined officials from The Salvation Army at a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the non-profit’s new Center of Hope in Birmingham, Alabama.

The U.S. Congress got a step closer to improving access to mainstream financial services for the underserved and unbanked with the inclusion of the MOBILE Act (H.R. 1457) as part of an amendment to the banking regulatory relief bill that was reported out of the Senate Banking Committee last week, and the standalone bill reported out (by 60-0 vote) of the House Financial Services Committee this week.

If the No. 1 fear in the U.S. is public speaking — and it actually is, according to a number of surveys, even above the fear of death itself — then the seminar for BBVA Momentum participants this fall at the University of Texas at Austin was a security blanket.