European board appointment

A Killinkere native has been appointed as the first Irish board member of the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA). Cavanman Dónal Traynor is the CEO of Community Finance Ireland (CFI).

The European FEBEA is an umbrella group of 33 financial institutions from 15 European countries, which develop and promote ethical finance principles. The appointment was announced at the FEBEA annual conference in Athens last month, where Mr Traynor spoke to delegates about the impact of CFI’s work providing social finance to organisations on the island of Ireland.

Community Finance Ireland, which has been a member of FEBEA since 2016, offers social finance loans to community organisations, which drive social impact through sport, faith-based groups, social enterprises and community projects.

Since its establishment in 1995 in Belfast, CFI has supported organisations to the value of €100 million.

Speaking on his appointment, Mr Traynor said: “FEBEA’s mission to work for the development of a fairer, more sustainable and more inclusive society is directly aligned with our mission at Community Finance Ireland.

“We’re proud to offer tailored supports to organisations that are creating palpable social change in our local communities across Ireland. Just as our peers in FEBEA do in communities right across Europe."

Mr Traynor was appointed to CEO of Community Finance Ireland in 2020, having led their business in the Republic of Ireland since 2004. He is the youngest CEO in the organisation’s history and the first to come from a non-banking background.