Case study: How Aiyl Bank works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices
Aiyl Bank was established in 1996 by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic with financial and technical support from the World Bank, aiming to offer loans to agricultural enterprises within the Kyrgyz Republic. Over its 29 years of operation, Aiyl Bank has made significant strides in expanding access to credit for a large portion of the rural population. Today, it is one of the leading financial institutions dedicated to developing the country’s agricultural sector and enhancing the well-being of its people by providing affordable, high-quality banking services powered by modern technologies. The bank operates through 169 branches across all regions of the Republic, including remote and hard-to-reach areas. Aiyl Bank 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 2024 PRB Responsible Banking Progress Statement by Aiyl Bank, 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:
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- Principle 3: Clients and Customers
- Principle 4: Stakeholders
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- How Aiyl Bank proceeded with stakeholder identification and consultation, and
- How Aiyl Bank worked with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities
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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.
Aiyl Bank actively seeks feedback from its stakeholders and is committed to responding to their concerns promptly and accurately. The bank believes that this engagement provides valuable insights, assists in managing risks and opportunities, and is vital for its long-term sustainability.
Engagement with Clients
Aiyl Bank is dedicated to placing its clients at the heart of all operations. Its complaint management system enables the bank to swiftly identify and resolve issues, reinforcing its commitment to customer satisfaction and consumer protection.
Interaction with Institutional and Regulatory Bodies
In 2024, Aiyl Bank proactively engaged with regulators and government authorities to promote sustainable finance within the Kyrgyz Republic. The bank contributed to discussions on establishing a framework that supports the transition to a low-carbon economy. This included participating in the development of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Green taxonomy and a Roadmap for advancing sustainable finance and implementing ESG principles in the banking sector, designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
Engagement with Investors
Recognizing the increasing importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions, Aiyl Bank has strengthened its relationships with external analysts and ESG ratings agencies. The bank understands that strong ESG ratings and scores are essential for attracting sustainable investments and shaping investment strategies.
How did Aiyl Bank work with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities?
In its 2024 PRB Responsible Banking Progress Statement Aiyl Bank reports that it works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities as follows:
As a universal bank in the Kyrgyz Republic, Aiyl Bank offers a comprehensive range of services. The bank is uniquely positioned to influence behavioural change and assist clients in high-emission sectors, such as agriculture, in transitioning toward more sustainable practices. Aiyl Bank’s objective is to embed ESG principles into its daily operations.
Aiyl Bank was the first Kyrgyz bank to sign the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and remains committed to supporting communities and vulnerable populations. The bank provides financial education programs aimed at increasing economic awareness and reducing social disparities. Through concessional lending, participation in state programs, partnerships, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives such as charitable activities and sponsorships, Aiyl Bank empowers communities and seeks to create a lasting positive impact.
At Aiyl Bank, sustainability is at the core of its strategy. The bank is dedicated to delivering fair and equitable service to its customers and actively equipping its employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster positive change. Recognizing that capacity building is a key challenge in expanding ESG practices within crediting and procurement, Aiyl Bank plans to intensify its efforts in this area.
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
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- 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.
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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 Aiyl Bank, 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:
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