Case study: How Banco de la Nación Argentina works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices

For 131 years, Banco de la Nación Argentina has been dedicated to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises, which play a vital role in the country’s development and foreign trade, particularly in promoting the export of goods, services, and technology. The bank has a significant presence both nationally and internationally, boasting 777 assistance channels across the country, thereby fostering the growth of various regional economies. Banco de la Nación Argentina is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and is, accordingly, working with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2023 PRB Reporting and Self-Assessment Template by Banco de la Nación Argentina, prepared in relation to its implementation of the PRB, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Which Principles for Responsible Banking have been addressed?

The Principles for Responsible Banking addressed in this case are:

• • • Principle 3: Clients and Customers
      • 3.1 Client engagement
    • Principle 4: Stakeholders
      • 4.1 Stakeholder identification and consultation

Stakeholder identification and consultation

Please describe which stakeholders (or groups/ types of stakeholders) you have identified, consulted, engaged, collaborated or partnered with for the purpose of implementing the Principles and improving your bank’s impacts. This should include a high-level overview of how your bank has identified relevant stakeholders, what issues were addressed/results achieved and how they fed into the action planning process.

Banco de la Nación Argentina maintains open communication with all stakeholders who are directly or indirectly affected by its activities and products. Identified stakeholders include employees, board members, customers, suppliers, the local community, industry chambers and associations, as well as government and controlling bodies.

These stakeholders are engaged during the materiality analysis process to establish the Bank’s materiality matrix, which prioritizes the key issues to be addressed in the Sustainability Report and to be managed as part of the Sustainability Strategy.

How did Banco de la Nación Argentina work with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities?

In its 2023 PRB Reporting and Self-Assessment Template Banco de la Nación Argentina reports that it works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities as follows:

Banco de la Nación Argentina is committed to integrating sustainability policies, processes, practices, and standards into its financing activities and investments, as well as within the organization itself. It aims to support market proposals and projects that promote sustained growth while directly and indirectly contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework.

To achieve this, the Bank has a Sustainability Policy designed to foster a systematic approach for effectively developing programs, processes, and actions at a centralized level, considering the significant federal impact of each initiative. Key focus areas include sustainable finance and financial inclusion. The Sustainability Committee supports the Board of Directors in shaping the Sustainability Strategy, aiming to embed ethical, social, and environmental criteria into its operations through financial assistance.

Specifically, the Bank seeks to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy and mitigate the effects of climate change by promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from major industrial polluters.

Additionally, Banco de la Nación Argentina has established an interdepartmental group to create a Framework for the Development of Financial Instruments Aligned with the SDGs. This framework outlines the guidelines and principles for developing, launching, and managing debt and credit instruments classified as green, social, or sustainable, and in alignment with the SDGs.

UN Principles for Responsible Banking: Accelerating a positive global transition for people and the planet

With over 300 signatory banks representing almost half of the global banking industry, the Principles for Responsible Banking are the world’s foremost sustainable banking framework. Through these Principles, the banking community takes action to align core strategies, decision-making, lending and investment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement.

FBRH Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) Assurance:

First class PRB assurance services: The result of solid, hands-on ESG/ Sustainability experience

• • • FBRH is a GRI Certified Training Partner (Global), ISEP Training Centre and a member of CPD.
    • FBRH builds trust. Over 200 reviews from top professionals from around the world demonstrate our ability to build strong, trusting business relationships.
    • FBRH possesses a unique skill set that combines ESG/sustainability certified training, experience in advisory services and report preparation, and ESG/sustainability report assurance.

The combination of all the above empowers FBRH to provide first class Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) assurance services.

References:

This case study is based on published information by Banco de la Nación Argentina, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.bna.com.ar/Downloads/Institucional_SustentabilidadASG_Segundo Reporte Principios de Banca Responsable_ Ingles.pdf

Note to Banco de la Nación Argentina: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.