The Inter-Alpha Group of Banks was created in 1971 by six banks in the European Community to provide a platform for the regular exchange of ideas and to explore areas for cooperation between its member banks. The group is a non-hierarchical association and is maintained by mutual agreement with each bank retaining full autonomy and independence.
It was one of the banking clubs set up during the 1960s and 1970s when a number of European banks attempted to cooperate at an international level.
The group’s function has evolved to:
Provide a platform for the regular exchange of ideas at the executive and senior management levelAllow specialists to meet and discuss topics of particular interestEstablish areas of cooperation, particularly in international tradeTrain bank management through annual Inter-Alpha Banking School and annual Inter-Alpha Banking Management Programme at INSEAD at Fountainbleau near ParisCreate a framework for individual banks within the Group to work togetherMembership of the group has grown to eleven banks, representing 15 European countries:
AIB Group, IrelandNovo Banco, PortugalCommerzbank, GermanyING Group, NetherlandsIntesa Sanpaolo, ItalyKBC Bank, BelgiumNordea, Denmark, Finland and SwedenNational Bank of Greece, GreeceRoyal Bank of Scotland Group, UK (Williams & Glyn's Bank was one of the original founding members but it's membership was later taken over by The Royal Bank of Scotland)Santander, SpainSociété Générale, France