The Financial Services Institute of Australasia has set itself the task of boosting professionalism and ethical standards in financial services. In so doing, FINSIA has nominated itself to play a crucial role in deepening trust in financial services, starting with the banking sector."FINSIA recognises the current challenges facing financial services and the appetite for change and the need for a professional body to help restore pride and trust in the financial services community," Chris Whitehead, FINSIA's chief executive officer, said."Our ongoing role at FINSIA will be as a connector, working with the industry, regulators, education providers and other key stakeholders to provide the right certifications and raise standards of competency and conduct."John Laker, chief executive of The Banking & Finance Oath, was one of several banking industry leaders to line up behind the efforts outlined by FINSIA. "The Banking and Finance Oath (BFO) strongly supports the financial services industry in developing a framework and strategy to raise its professional standards," Laker said."We believe a commitment to ethical behaviour has to be at the core of those professional standards. We look forward to working with FINSIA in the future to ensure this happens."David Gall, the current FINSIA president, set out the three step process his organisation would be following to achieve these aims in an "Advocacy Pack" for his members: seek commitment from key stakeholders, including FINSIA's own membership; establish a Professional Banking Council "to define appropriate standards of conduct, competence, and culture," along with other professional standards councils to cover other parts of the securities and investment sectors; and deliver globally recognised certification and qualifications for the financial services professions.Offering one concrete response to the third point above, Whitehead announced a partnership with the Chartered Banker Institute to bring globally recognised professional certifications to Australia and New Zealand. "The Chartered Banker pathway supports practitioners at all levels - from the foundation level, right through to the Chartered Banker certification, suitable for senior executives," he said.NOTE: The writer is a member of Finsia