The General Meeting, PIGNUS’s main decision-making body
According to our association’s bylaws, the General Assembly must be held at least once every two years. Although this was the case when PIGNUS first began its activities, since 2001 the assemblies have been held annually, with only one interruption due to COVID-19. The General Assembly is PIGNUS’s main decision-making body.
The Standing Committee
The Standing Committee, the Association’s executive body, meets annually; since PIGNUS was founded, a total of 67 meetings have been held to date. This body meets prior to the General Assembly to propose resolutions that will then be adopted by the members during the plenary session.
Four key meetings
1957
Milan: Foundation of PIGNUS
1988
Madrid: Relocation of the headquarters to Spain
2013
Seville: First Asian member joins the team
2026
Other important upcoming topics
Annual Meetings
Since 1957, we have held more than one hundred meetings. Over nearly 70 years, the Association has organized meetings at the headquarters of all its members in North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and has established contacts with multilateral organizations and academic institutions in countries where PIGNUS is not yet present.
Vienna 2026
Vienna, in the heart of Europe, is hosting our general assembly this year. The Dorotheum, one of the oldest institutions offering pawnbroking and auction services since 1707, is opening its doors to provide an elegant and engaging setting for our meeting.
Mexico 2025
Im Jahr 2025 feierte Pignus seine 40. Generalversammlung sowie das 250-jährige Jubiläum der Gründung eines seiner langjährigen Mitglieder, das auch Gastgeber der Veranstaltung war: der Nacional Monte de Piedad in Mexiko, der als ältestes Finanzinstitut des amerikanischen Kontinents gilt.
León (Spain) 2024
The 2024 conference, held in León, Spain, focused on topics that were highly relevant at the time, such as the application of artificial intelligence to various economic activities and everyday life, including pawnbroking.
Renowned experts and speakers
PIGNUS General Assemblies cover a wide range of topics. First, there are matters specific to the Association, which are addressed through proposals from the Standing Committee. Second, there are members’ experiences, which highlight the evolution of their work, the adoption of new technologies, or process improvements. In addition, PIGNUS General Assemblies often feature distinguished speakers from various disciplines, who greatly enrich the meetings.
