Case study: How Fidelity Bank promotes a culture of responsible banking among its employees

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.

Fidelity Bank remains committed to meaningful stakeholder engagement as a key part of its sustainability approach and the application of its principles. The bank identifies and prioritizes stakeholders based on their relevance to its operations, the potential impact of its activities on them, and their interest in sustainability matters. Fidelity Bank’s engagement practices are guided by the principles of inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. Insights gained from these interactions inform the bank’s materiality assessments, influence policy decisions, and support the ongoing enhancement of its sustainability initiatives.

Key stakeholder groups and engagement methods include:

• Customers: Connected through feedback surveys, social media, focus groups, customer service channels, relationship managers, and complaints management systems to understand their needs and expectations.
• Employees: Engaged via the intranet, staff meetings, newsletters, training sessions, surveys, performance appraisals, employee resource groups, and whistleblowing channels to foster alignment with the bank’s objectives and promote a responsible workplace.
• Investors and Shareholders: Consulted during Annual General Meetings, investor presentations, sustainability reports, investor relations platforms, and analyst calls to share performance updates and strategic insights.
• Regulators: Interacted with through regulatory submissions, consultations, formal meetings, and participation in industry working groups to ensure compliance and contribute to sector policy development.
• Suppliers: Managed through audits, contractual agreements, workshops, and review meetings to promote responsible sourcing and uphold ethical standards.
• Communities: Engaged via town hall meetings, collaborations with local organizations, social investment programs, and grievance mechanisms to support local development and address community concerns.
• NGOs and Civil Society: Collaborated on specific environmental and social projects and participated in multi-stakeholder initiatives promoting sustainable development.
• Media: Engaged through press releases, briefings, interviews, and social media to ensure transparency and communicate important updates.
• Government: Interacted with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies through meetings, conferences, and joint initiatives, especially on regulatory and policy issues.
• Industry Peers: Participated in industry associations, benchmarking activities, and collaborative platforms to share knowledge and advance collective sustainability efforts.

These stakeholder engagement efforts have been instrumental in shaping Fidelity Bank’s sustainability strategy, enhancing transparency, and strengthening its social license to operate.

How does Fidelity Bank promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees?

In its 2024 PRB Progress Report Fidelity Bank reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

Fidelity Bank is dedicated to fostering a culture of responsible banking throughout all levels of the organization. This commitment begins with training during induction for both new and experienced hires, where employees are introduced to the bank’s core values, ethics, and sustainability expectations. Fidelity Bank’s Crest Academy spearheads employee learning and development by providing structured training programs that incorporate sustainability and climate-related content.

Training needs are identified through performance evaluations and collaboration with line managers, while employees are also encouraged to request training aligned with their personal development goals. Sustainability and climate-focused modules are integrated into the overall curriculum, with the Crest Academy working closely with the Sustainable Banking team to ensure alignment with the bank’s strategic objectives.

Fidelity Bank delivers training via multiple channels, including its Electronic Learning Management System (ELMS), virtual sessions on Microsoft Teams, and instructor-led workshops. Knowledge retention is supported through self-paced modules, quizzes, and facilitated discussions where appropriate.

Beyond formal training, the Sustainable Banking team regularly disseminates communications on sustainability and climate issues to raise awareness across the bank, in partnership with the Brand and Communications Division.

Additionally, board members and senior management receive specialized training on sustainability and climate-related topics, including relevant reporting standards such as IFRS S1 and S2. Sustainability performance is integrated into Fidelity Bank’s appraisal processes and reflected in sustainability staff and executive incentive programs, with ongoing efforts to strengthen the connection between remuneration and ESG outcomes.

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 Fidelity 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:

https://www.fidelitybank.ng/documents/Fidelity-Bank-Sustainability-And-Climate-Report-2024.pdf

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