I should not wish to conclude this address without highlighting the need to further efforts in the financial education of consumers. In early 2007 the Banco de España released a new version of the Bank Customer Portal, but much remains to be done. The growing complexity and sophistication of the international financial system is, as I mentioned, creating a “knowledge gap” between financial institutions and final investors. And far from closing, the gap is widening. Supervisors, along with the other authorities involved in safeguarding consumer rights, must step up and, above all, combine their efforts in this field, since bank customers with a sound financial grounding are a vital pillar in a sound, competitive and stable financial system. It remains only for me to express my thanks, which it is a pleasure to do. During these first 11 months of my term of office I have had the good fortune to work closely with this Governing Council, the Executive Commission, the Deputy Governor and the Directors General, and to have received the firm support of the Bank’s staff. I thank you all and, after having celebrated the 150th anniversary of the adoption of the name Banco de España, I can bear witness to the fact this institution is performing increasingly better the tasks entrusted to it. BIS Review 67/2007  9
   54  je 6S54P6S TO6 57 6S 6S 6S _^ S O 6 S 1 R 4 5 9 8 P 9 P 8 P 6 P T 6 T 9 4 3 9 4 6 S 5 a 9 4 4 9 W5 4 1 8 9 R P 7 a 6 1 5 7 9 P V 0P 7 #8 %-60a.6 5 #S95"4 ¢ #;  32& 7 `I" ` J 81738  65% `^52+ 37 G 2 6  $ e k 6i  772/01   58677 8 4  24 )+;)*1 64 4 7641  6 4 751 4 %34 4 64 4 7641 )+;)<1