On December 19, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring December 4 the International Day of Banks, with the first official observance taking place in 2020. The resolution recognized the significant role multilateral development banks and national and international financial institutions play in financing the Sustainable Development Goals. The day highlights how the banking sector—from major development banks to local financial institutions—provides the capital needed for economic and social projects, supports entrepreneurship, and expands access to financial services for individuals and communities, helping reduce poverty and drive inclusive economic growth. Banks and financial institutions around the world mark the occasion with campaigns on financial inclusion, public workshops on saving, budgeting, and investing, and initiatives that showcase successful development-financing projects, particularly in developing countries where access to banking remains limited for many.