ABSTRACT
Trust is a belief and this belief may have logical and rational foundations, or simply spring from a leap of faith. The importance of trust cannot be overestimated. It is difficult, if not impossible, to cooperate in an environment of distrust, whether at the personal, social, corporate, national or international level. Trust in money, banks and electronic banking is one of the fundamental engines of modern commerce. If trust was lost and we needed to revert to physical currency, or in the extreme, gold or barter, the international economy would be destroyed. Building trust is a critical part of building relationships, in every society, regardless of size, structure, composition or purpose. Banks and the finance industry were rated as the least trustworthy of international businesses. Great leaders build trust. People follow leaders who keep them free from harm or the threat of harm, or who will reduce the amount of harm being suffered by their national tribe.
