Odeabank Becomes the First Bank to Join the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter​

Odeabank has joined the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter, which advocates for gender-sensitive representation in media and advertising content. In doing so, Odeabank has become the first Turkish bank to join the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter.

Odeabank, Türkiye’s young, dynamic, and innovative bank, has joined the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter of UN Women to address and transform harmful gender stereotypes in advertising and commercials. Odeabank is the first bank in Türkiye to join the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter.

The Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter aims to set a global example by promoting gender equality in advertising and media content through the collaborative efforts of advertisers and agencies. The platform also seeks to foster a stereotype-free work culture in business environments by collaborating with brands and emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

The platform is formulating principles and guidelines that companies must follow to ensure egalitarian and stereotype-free advertising content. It also works to eliminate stereotypes and discrimination by employing communication methods that enhance public awareness.

Öncü: We are proud to be the first and only bank in Türkiye to join the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter

In his statement on the matter, Odeabank CEO Manager Mert Öncü said: “At Odeabank, we believe that strong societies and economies are founded on conditions that allow both women and men to achieve their full potential. Empowering women in society is a key priority for Odeabank's social responsibility initiatives. With this goal in mind, Odeabank signed the United Nations’ private sector initiative, the “Women’s Empowerment Principles,” last year to ensure that women can participate in economic life on equal terms. To raise awareness on the issue, we became the first and only bank in Türkiye to join the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter, which aims to transform negative gender stereotypes in advertising content. By joining the Unstereotype Alliance Türkiye National Chapter, we have set an industry precedent. We are proud to be the first and only bank in Türkiye to sign the platform, and we aim to raise awareness as a pioneer in the banking industry. At Odeabank, promoting gender equality is a key guiding principle in our work. In line with this commitment, we provide fair and equal working conditions to all employees, regardless of gender. The Fair Tales project we introduced last year is a key example of the Unstereotype Alliance’s mission to transform gender stereotypes. Odeabank is spearheading efforts in the banking industry to help create a world free of gender stereotypes.”

Encompassing members from 217 brands, the Unstereotype Alliance has established national chapters in Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Nigeria. The Türkiye Chapter, which was established on December 13, 2019, is the second national chapter to be established worldwide.