This proceedings volume presents a comprehensive collection of innovative research papers from the World Finance & Banking Symposium, held in Brno, Czech Republic, in December 2025. The book offers cutting-edge insights into the latest developments in finance and banking. Spanning a diverse range of topics such as corporate finance, investment strategies, behavioral finance, market microstructure, asset pricing, and banking regulations, the volume explores both traditional and emerging trends within the industry. It also delves into critical areas like Islamic banking, corporate social responsibility, cybersecurity, and the impact of financial crises. With contributions from leading academics and industry experts, this volume serves as an essential resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking a deeper understanding of global financial markets, their complexities, and the ever-evolving challenges they face.

João Paulo Vieito is a Full Professor of Finance and served as the Dean of the School of Business Studies at the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (IPVC) in Portugal from 2009 to 2019. He holds a Post-Doctorate in Neurofinance from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and a Ph.D. in Business Sciences with a specialization in Finance from the University of Porto, Portugal. He also holds a Master's in Finance from Católica University in Portugal. Since 2009, he has served as Chairman of the World Finance Conferences and the World Finance & Banking Symposium. His teaching and research interests include Behavioral Finance, Equity Analysis, Investment Theory, Financial Modeling, and Corporate Governance. Dr. Vieito has published extensively in leading journals such as Journal of Financial Stability, Journal of Corporate Finance, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Applied Economics, Studies in Economics and Finance, Journal of Behavioral Finance, Corporate Governance: An International Review, and International Review of Economics and Finance, among others. He serves on the editorial boards of several prominent finance journals and has authored multiple books, including Finanças Empresariais: Teoria e Prática and Executivos - Como são (re)compensados. Additionally, he has been an invited speaker at prestigious institutions such as the University of São Paulo, Delhi School of Economics, and Zhejiang University.