Banking CEOs face consequences of ‘playing political games’ on ESG issues: FL banking exec

As CEOs of major banks gear up to testify before the House Financial Service Committee through Thursday, Alex Sanchez, president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association, advised corporate leaders to “don’t play politics” on ESG issues, saying that banks make the “final decision” in who to invest on”Mornings with Maria” Wednesday.

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Prior to the congressional statement from banking CEOs Wednesday, Alex Sanchez, president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association, advised “not to play politics and not to dance with either party” on “Mornings with Maria” Wednesday, September 21, 2022. (Getty Images)

We finance projects that make economic sense. And in my opinion piece that Maria referred to, my concern with ESG, which is why I urge our CEOs not to play politics and dance with either side, especially the left, as has happened in the past, is that I want the bankers make the final decision on who to bank. I don’t want the government, both right and left, to say bank this person or don’t bank that person. The bankers have to make that decision based on their risk and business profile. But the danger and risk in playing political games and dancing with one party or the other is that it will happen.

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