BPFI welcomes Women in Finance Charter report showing rise in female leadership across financial services
13th July 2026 – Female leadership rates are continuing to improve across financial services firms signed up to Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter, according to the Charter’s Annual Report 2026, welcomed today by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland. The report, which is compiled by the ESRI and financed by the Department of Finance, shows that female representation at board, executive committee, senior management and middle management levels is trending upwards.
The report was officially launched at the Central Bank of Ireland by EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath alongside Minister of State for Finance with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Robert Troy TD.
Mags Fullen, member of the Women in Finance Charter Steering Group and Head of Mortgages & Business Banking at BPFI stated: “This year’s Women in Finance Charter report provides welcome evidence of steady progress on female representation across financial services firms. Greater gender balance, particularly at senior levels, brings broader perspectives to the table, supports stronger decision making and helps deliver better outcomes for businesses and wider society. The challenge now is to build on this momentum by embedding inclusive workplace cultures and ensuring progress is sustained across all levels of the sector.”
Supporting career development identified as crucial for increasing female representation while gender pay gap remains high
Ms Fullen continued: “Supporting the career development of existing employees was identified as crucial to increasing female representation, with internal appointments to managerial roles more gender balanced than external appointments. Internal appointments had a 51% female share, compared with 44% for external appointments. Firms also ranked female career development and leadership training, sponsorship and mentoring, and better gender balance in succession planning as among the most effective actions. However, the gender pay gap remains high, with an average wage differential of 16% between male and female employees across the firms surveyed.”
Calling on more organisations to sign up to the Charter, Ms Fullen added: “Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter provides a practical framework for firms that want to demonstrate a serious commitment to improving gender diversity. With 104 firms, representing more than 71,000 employees, already signed up to the Charter, today we’re calling on more organisations to join.”
Cathy Bryce appointed as new Chair of the Women in Finance Charter
The report launch also marks the appointment of Cathy Bryce, Managing Director of Capital Markets at AIB, as Chair of the Women in Finance Charter Steering Group for 2026-2028. Cathy succeeds Fiona Gallagher of Wells Fargo as Chair. She noted: “The publication of this report today is an important moment, but we recognise that the sustained effort of both industry and Government is vital throughout the year to deliver on these ambitions. I look forward to working with signatories, industry and the public sector to drive further success in the months ahead.”
Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter is a joint industry-Government initiative launched in 2022 as part of the Government’s Ireland for Finance strategy. It aims to improve female representation across financial services. Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), Insurance Ireland, Financial Services Ireland and Irish Funds are founding members, while Brokers Ireland and Enterprise Ireland also provide operational and communications support to Charter signatories.
Download the Charter’s Annual Report 2026 here.
ENDS/
