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.

Following the materiality analysis conducted in 2017 on its sustainable development priorities, Desjardins polled its members in 2024, with the majority (73%) indicating that sustainable development is important to them. Over recent years, Desjardins has carried out additional surveys of its personal and business members and clients to better understand their priorities and concerns related to sustainability and responsible finance. These surveys have provided further insights into how well Canadians comprehend sustainable development and responsible financial practices.

Surveying stakeholders has helped Desjardins identify what matters most to its members and clients. These priorities are addressed in the “Listening to Our Stakeholders” section of Desjardins’ Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report. Desjardins collaborates with all levels of government, regulators, and other standard-setting organizations on various issues, which are also detailed in the same section of its Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report.

Through numerous partnerships, Desjardins remains committed to supporting communities in the energy transition and taking action against climate change and biodiversity loss. These partnerships foster university research and training, promote the development of practical solutions for economic stakeholders, and enhance climate education and engagement. For more information, please refer to the diagram of Desjardins’ environmental and climate action partners.

Additionally, Desjardins has participated in several working groups organized by UNEP FI to support the implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), and the Commitment to Financial Health and Inclusion. These groups facilitate discussions and collaborative efforts on ESG issues with financial institutions worldwide.

Desjardins is also a member of the Climate Montreal Partnership (in French only), a coalition of nearly 100 Montreal-based economic, philanthropic, institutional, and environmental stakeholders working together to accelerate Montreal’s decarbonization and build climate resilience within the timelines outlined by climate science. Furthermore, Desjardins participates in the Quebec Climate Partnership’s engagement committee (in French only), which aims to mobilize Quebec City’s economic forces. As an ambassador advocating for enhanced climate action in Quebec City, Desjardins contributes to setting priorities and will participate in upcoming climate action summits in the province’s capital.

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

In its 2024 PRB Reporting and Self-Assessment Template Desjardins reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

At Desjardins, responsible finance is a core part of its identity as a cooperative. An entire section dedicated to responsible finance is included in Desjardins’ Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report. Desjardins communicates its commitment to responsible finance to all employees through the Desjardins Fundamentals learning pathway, which consists of individual and group activities designed to foster a shared understanding of what it means to operate as a cooperative. In 2022, Desjardins implemented mandatory training on sustainability and responsible finance, complemented by additional modules on climate change and specialized topics such as responsible investment and sustainable insurance. These modules are integrated into training plans tailored for various key roles within the organization. For instance, training on ESG integration was launched in 2023 to educate and raise awareness among all business advisors. In 2024, over 2,028 employees across different departments participated in Climate Fresk workshops to grasp the fundamentals of climate change.

Desjardins’ commitment is also embedded in its processes. For example, there is a procedure for assessing ESG factors in large business financing, which helps identify and manage environmental and social risks within the loan portfolio. For more information on Desjardins’ approach to responsible finance, please refer to section 2.4, Responsible Products and Services, of its Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report.

Furthermore, the organization’s president and CEO, Guy Cormier, champions responsible finance. Desjardins was a partner of the 2023 Sustainable Finance Summit in Montreal, where Guy Cormier participated in a discussion alongside Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, and UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance. During this discussion, they explored the vital role of financial institutions in promoting sustainable finance and transitioning to a sustainable economy. They also addressed the challenges and opportunities related to sustainable finance, financial innovation and mobilization, as well as the importance of transparency and reporting.

Desjardins has also incorporated an ESG component into its employee and manager incentive structure (bonus plan). This component is based on an indicator that compares Desjardins’ ESG performance to that of its peers in North America, as evaluated by four ESG rating agencies.

 

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 Desjardins, 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.desjardins.com/content/dam/pdf/en/about-us/community/sustainable-development/reports/2024-principles-responsible-banking.pdf

Note to Desjardins: 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.

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.

In line with its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Orabank Group has conducted a thorough process to identify and map its stakeholders, in accordance with Principle #1 of the ISO 26000 standard. Orabank Group’s approach is grounded in GRI standards, ensuring a rigorous and standardized methodology. The process started with a review of relevant documents and a benchmarking of international and sector-specific practices, followed by an assessment of how Orabank Group engages with its stakeholders. This enabled Orabank Group to categorize its stakeholders into homogeneous groups and sub-groups, allowing for a deeper understanding of their expectations and priorities.

After completing the stakeholder mapping, the results were presented to the Steering Committee, composed of the Communications Departments from the countries where Oragroup operates. A collaborative exercise followed to assess the criticality of each stakeholder group and to validate their prioritization. This process enabled Orabank Group to concentrate its efforts on the most influential and relevant stakeholders for its sustainability initiatives.

Recognizing its role as a significant economic player, Orabank Group is committed to a proactive corporate social responsibility approach. This strategy not only helps Orabank Group contribute to the sustainable economic development of the countries where it operates but also supports the overall performance of the Group. Orabank Group incorporates the key interests of its stakeholders while adopting a pragmatic and realistic perspective on the specific challenges faced in each region and business sector.

Ultimately, the quality of service provided by Oragroup depends on several factors: the dedication of its employees, collaboration with its suppliers and partners, and the trust Orabank Group establishes with its customers, investors, and other stakeholders. Orabank Group’s business model is built on these strong relationships, which ensure the sustainability of its activities and satisfy the expectations of its stakeholders.

How does Orabank Group promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees?

In its 2024 PRB Reporting and Self-Assessment Template Orabank Group reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

Orabank Group has undertaken various initiatives to foster a culture of responsible banking among its staff. Since 2014, the Group has launched an online Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) training program designed to raise employees’ awareness of sustainable development issues and help them integrate these principles into daily operations. This training is accessible to all staff members, with special modules tailored for customer-facing employees, focusing on incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria into their roles. By June 2023, over 1,700 employees had completed the program, strengthening Oragroup’s collective commitment to responsible banking practices.

Meanwhile, Orabank Group has actively involved its management and leaders in promoting the CSR vision by organizing seminars and workshops aimed at clarifying strategic goals and spreading the bank’s core values. Communicating sustainability issues is a fundamental aspect of the internal management approach, helping to strengthen the teams’ dedication to the Group’s principles.

Finally, CSR is incorporated into employee performance management at Oragroup. The Group ties certain performance metrics to sustainability objectives, motivating employees to embed these principles into their everyday activities. While the specifics of compensation structures are not explicitly outlined, it is evident that integrating CSR into performance goals fosters a culture of responsible banking. Collectively, these efforts contribute to establishing Orabank Group as a proactive institution dedicated to promoting more inclusive and sustainable finance across Africa.

 

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 Orabank Group, 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.orabank-reporting.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PRB-Reporting-and-Self-Assessment-ORAGROUP-ENG.pdf

Note to Orabank Group: 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.

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.

Nordea is dedicated to fostering and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with its stakeholders. The bank actively seeks insights into their expectations and responds promptly with appropriate actions and engagement. Nordea has identified six primary stakeholder groups: customers, employees, investors, suppliers, supervisory authorities, and the broader society.

The bank maintains ongoing dialogue with all key stakeholder groups, with a particular focus on customers and investee companies, to understand the sustainability challenges and opportunities they encounter in their respective environments. This approach enables Nordea to address material sustainability issues effectively and to translate its sustainability commitments into tangible actions. Nordea’s strategy emphasizes dialogue over disengagement. Key engagement metrics include customer preferences (such as post-advisory surveys), active ownership activities (voting and engagement with investee companies), climate-related customer engagement (LC&I clients), ESG ratings, employee engagement (via People Pulse), and supplier sustainability assessments.

Additionally, Nordea undertakes specific initiatives to support vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, through information sessions to address questions and gather feedback. Nordea also provides dedicated senior customer service lines in Norway and Finland to assist older clients. Furthermore, the bank engages with customers on debt management by communicating clearly across multiple channels and monitoring feedback to reduce risks and improve their financial well-being.

How did Nordea identify and work on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts?

In its 2024 PRB Responsible Banking Progress Statement Nordea reports that it identified and worked on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts as follows:

As the leading financial services group in the Nordics, Nordea has the potential to make a substantial impact through the advice, products, and support provided to customers to facilitate sustainability-focused investment decisions. In DMA, Nordea identified key opportunities related to climate change and offers several sustainability-related products to support these efforts.

Nordea Sustainable Selection is Nordea’s fund offering that incorporates enhanced sustainability criteria. It was created to assist Nordic clients in navigating the wide range of products with varying sustainability features and levels of ambition available in the market. The framework for Nordea Sustainable Selection requires both the product and its provider to meet a set of established sustainability criteria. The offering includes both Article 8 and Article 9 products as defined by the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). As the market evolves and customer demands increase, Nordea’s sustainable product range will continue to expand and develop. In 2024, Nordea introduced a new product category called Sustainable Selection Improve, which emphasizes active ownership with specific, measurable engagement targets aimed at enhancing the sustainability profile of portfolio companies. Nordea set a target for gross flows into Nordea Sustainable Selection funds to reach 33% of total flows by 2025, supporting the Group’s climate objectives to reduce emissions in the investment portfolio by 40-50% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. By the end of 2024, the share of gross flows into Nordea Sustainable Selection funds had reached 23%.

Nordea’s sustainable and sustainability-linked finance products play a key role in integrating sustainability into the bank’s funding and liquidity strategies by offering sustainable investment options to pension funds and other bond investors. The Nordea Green Funding Framework and the Sustainability-Linked Loan Funding Framework mark significant progress toward embedding ESG and sustainability considerations into core operations, by establishing clear assessment criteria and management practices for proceeds. In 2024, Nordea issued over EUR 3.6 billion in sustainable funding across four currencies, bringing the total outstanding sustainable issuance to more than EUR 14 billion. Green bonds generally offer lower yields and enjoy stronger investor demand compared to conventional bonds. The cost of fund benefit or “greenium” that Nordea receives for green bonds is passed on to business units and ultimately to customers on a quarterly basis.

 

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 Nordea, 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.nordea.com/en/doc/nordea-principles-for-responsible-banking-2024.pdf

Note to Nordea: 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.

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.

Shiga Bank’s Management Principles affirm the bank’s commitment to fostering mutual prosperity with regional communities, its employees, and the environment, highlighting the importance of co-creation with all the bank’s stakeholders.

Shiga Bank’s long-term strategy is shaped not only by internal perspectives, but also by insights from various external experts, gathered through stakeholder dialogues.

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

In its 2025 PRB Reporting and Self-Assessment Template Shiga Bank reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

To cultivate a corporate culture of responsibility, Shiga Bank has offered opportunities for employees to learn about sustainability through job rank-based seminars, conducted environmental seminars based on ISO14001 standards, and held semi-annual seminars focused on raising awareness of human rights for all Group employees. Additionally, to promote self-education, Shiga Bank encourages employees to participate in courses on ESG finance and to take relevant examinations.

Shiga Bank has also established the Diversity Promotion Committee, to foster a workplace where diverse opinions are respected and valued and individuals can fully unleash their abilities. Furthermore, Shiga Bank is transforming its performance evaluation system into one that assesses efforts made from a long-term perspective to address social issues within regional communities.

 

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 Shiga 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.shigagin.com/pdf/ESG_PRB_KPI_Sep2025_en.pdf

Note to Shiga Bank: 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.

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.

Understanding the priorities and expectations of Yapı Kredi’s stakeholders helps the bank better manage risks and seize opportunities. Yapı Kredi values effective, two-way communication with its stakeholders, which include shareholders and investors, employees, customers, regulatory and supervisory authorities, financial institutions and creditors, international companies, chambers of commerce and unions, suppliers, NGOs, universities and research institutions, and the media.

Customers are at the core of Yapı Kredi’s business model and represent one of the most crucial stakeholder groups. The bank actively considers customer feedback to continually enhance the customer experience and improve the value it provides. Human capital is the most vital asset supporting Yapı Kredi’s sustainability. To meet employee expectations and prepare for the future of business, the bank regularly updates its work models, employee training and development programs, and fringe benefits. Regarding shareholder relations, the Investor Relations department organizes analyst days, teleconferences, conferences, and roadshows to engage with current and potential investors, while also keeping shareholders informed about ongoing developments.

Yapı Kredi believes that the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be realized through collaboration among multiple stakeholders. Recognizing this, the bank regularly conducts stakeholder analyses as part of its strategic planning process to understand the expectations of both its internal and external stakeholders. The insights gained from these analyses are integrated into its materiality assessment. The stakeholder analysis involves the participation of over a hundred stakeholders, including shareholders and investors, customers, supervisory and regulatory authorities, financial institutions and creditors, chambers of commerce and unions, suppliers, NGOs, universities, and research institutions. Additionally, the bank gathers feedback from its external stakeholders and employees through online surveys.

Yapı Kredi actively participates in sectoral initiatives and collaborates with non-governmental organizations, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation. The bank aims to join and contribute to international sustainability standards and initiatives. It collaborates with numerous organizations, including UNEP FI, UN Principles for Responsible Banking (UN PRB), Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), Global Compact Network Turkey, Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER), WWF Turkey, Finance for Biodiversity Foundation, the Integrated Reporting Turkey Network (ERTA), and the Business Council for Sustainable Development Turkey (bscdTurkey). Additionally, Yapı Kredi is an active member of the Banks Association of Turkey (BAT), participating in all its activities. The bank is also a member of BAT’s “Sustainability Working Group” and contributes to its studies, particularly those focusing on the Green Asset Ratio (GAR) and climate-related risks.

How does Yapı Kredi promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees?

In its 2024 Integrated Annual Report Yapı Kredi reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

Yapı Kredi provides sustainability training and internal communication newsletters for employees at all levels to foster a culture of sustainability within the bank. Employees can access online ESG training modules through Yapı Kredi’s training portal, along with specialized certificate programs for staff working in ESG-related areas.

The bank also organizes workshops and training sessions to enhance knowledge on specific topics, such as incorporating climate change risks and opportunities into lending processes. Additionally, non-financial KPIs related to Yapı Kredi’s sustainability strategy and targets are incorporated into the remuneration packages of all relevant staff, including top management.

 

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 Yapı Kredi, 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.yapikrediinvestorrelations.com/en/images/pdf/annual-reports/2024/ykb_2024_integrated_annual_report.pdf?v4

Note to Yapı Kredi: 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.

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.

Zenith Bank’s stakeholders are defined as groups or individuals with an interest in the bank and who are affected by its activities, products, or services. Zenith Bank’s stakeholders include investors, employees, customers, suppliers, communities, industry peers, local and national government agencies, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international institutions. Through a comprehensive stakeholder engagement and management process, all these groups are considered in the bank’s responsible business decision-making.

Some of the key concerns raised by Zenith Bank’s stakeholder groups include:

• Employees: health and safety, compensation and benefits, training and development, work-life balance, and employee volunteering.
• Investors: financial performance, return on investments, investor relations, sustainable finance, and transparent communication.
• Customers: information security awareness, processing time for electronic transactions, claims and dispute resolution, transaction fees and charges, updates and offers on products and services, incentives, and access to cash.
• Suppliers: policy reviews, payment cycles, adherence to signed Service Level Agreements (SLAs), complaint resolution, Environmental & Social (E&S) risk considerations, information security and privacy awareness, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Government: foreign exchange rate practices, regulatory compliance, banking reforms, effective risk management and systemic risk prevention, lending to the real sector—particularly SMEs—anti-corruption initiatives, anti-money laundering efforts, and financial inclusion.

How did Zenith Bank identify and work on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts?

In its 2024 PRB Reporting and Self-Assessment Template Zenith Bank reports that it identified and worked on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts as follows:

Climate Action — Zenith Bank’s Climate Risk Management approach enables it to effectively evaluate its climate risk exposures across its operations, credit activities, and investments. This helps the bank to identify and implement actions aimed at further reducing its carbon footprint. Additionally, Zenith Bank continues to engage stakeholders and conduct training sessions, including employee training, to explore opportunities in climate risk management for its customers.

Food Security — Projects under the 100for100 Policy on Production and Productivity (PPP) are designed to significantly boost domestic production and productivity, reduce reliance on imports, increase non-oil exports, and enhance the foreign exchange generating capacity. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, focusing on both microeconomic and macroeconomic impacts, such as contributions to GDP and job creation.

 

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 Zenith 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://digital.zenithbank.com/sustainability_report/UNEPFI-PRB-Reporting-and-Self-Assessment-2024.pdf

Note to Zenith Bank: 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.

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.

Zenus Bank proactively consults, engages, and collaborates with key stakeholders to support broader societal objectives. These stakeholders include regulators, investors, clients, strategic partners such as Visa and J.P. Morgan, and the bank’s executive team—all of whom play vital roles in shaping strategy, maintaining compliance, and aligning efforts with long-term sustainability goals.

As the bank expands its services through B2B and B2B2C models, Zenus actively partners with organizations committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Collaborations with industry leaders like Visa and J.P. Morgan enhance the bank’s ability to deliver secure, globally compliant, and inclusive financial infrastructure, helping partners reach underserved populations worldwide.

Through ongoing dialogue—such as regulatory consultations, investor briefings, client feedback, and industry engagement—Zenus incorporates diverse perspectives that bolster decision-making. This collaborative approach allows the bank to refine its strategies, adapt to emerging challenges, and maximize its positive impact in key areas like financial inclusion, gender equality, and financial health.

By cultivating strong relationships and partnerships, Zenus Bank ensures its growth remains responsible, sustainable, and aligned with society’s evolving needs.

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

In its 2025 PRB Impact Report Zenus Bank reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

Zenus Bank understands that responsible banking starts with people. A culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and sustainability is cultivated at all levels of the organization through clear policies, ongoing training, and transparent communication.

• Values and Conduct: The Zenus Code of Ethics and responsible business policies guide employees in maintaining the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility.
• Capacity Building: Employees in client-facing roles regularly receive training on compliance, ethics, and sustainable finance principles, empowering them to incorporate responsible practices into daily operations.
• Governance and Leadership: The bank’s leadership sets the tone by integrating sustainability into strategic decisions and communicating commitments organization-wide.
• Transparency and Engagement: Zenus Bank openly shares its sustainability commitments via its website and social channels, ensuring employees, clients, and stakeholders understand its priorities. In 2025, the focus areas included gender equality, financial health, and financial inclusion.
• Accountability: Performance frameworks and risk policies support responsible decision-making, ensuring every employee contributes to Zenus Bank’s long-term vision of inclusive and sustainable growth.

Through these initiatives, Zenus Bank fosters a workplace culture where responsibility and sustainability are not isolated efforts but core elements of how the bank operates and serves its clients.

 

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 Zenus 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://zenus.com/media/p31djt54/zenus-unep-fi-2025-report_compressed.pdf

Note to Zenus Bank: 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.

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.

ICBC’s Basic Rules for Corporate Social Responsibility (ESG and Sustainable Finance) define social responsibility as the Group’s commitment to promoting high-quality development. This includes maintaining a steadfast dedication to a civilized development path that supports advanced production methods, prosperous living standards, and a healthy ecological environment. The bank aims to provide effective financial support and services to foster the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and to ensure the sharing of benefits with shareholders, customers, employees, society, and other stakeholders.

ICBC places significant emphasis on stakeholder communication. By establishing mechanisms for both immediate and regular dialogue, as well as coordinating communication on specific topics and engaging in international exchanges, the bank ensures continuous and meaningful interactions with key stakeholders. It actively encourages participation from relevant parties by leveraging new media platforms. To protect the rights and interests of investors and other stakeholders—particularly minority shareholders— ICBC strictly complies with domestic and international regulations regarding information disclosure. During the reporting period, the bank continuously enhanced its proactive information disclosure system within its periodic reporting framework and actively addressed investor concerns through its voluntary disclosure channels, making its information sharing more proactive and effective.

ICBC actively promotes the green, low-carbon, and sustainable development of its suppliers. Its centralized procurement process strictly complies with national regulations and upholds the principles of openness, fairness, justice, and integrity. The Administrative Measures for Centralized Procurement Suppliers have been revised to better specify management requirements for addressing significant risks and illegal activities related to environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance among suppliers.

ICBC values its people, cares for its employees, and continuously improves its employee incentive mechanisms and training systems. It leverages the role of the employee representative assembly, emphasizes the protection of employees’ legitimate rights and interests, and promotes equality in employment and career development opportunities for female employees.

ICBC actively promoted consumer protection education and awareness. In 2024, it designated the year as the “Year of Consumer Protection Education Promotion Deepening” nationwide and launched a themed campaign titled “Deepening Consumer Protection Education Promotion.” During the reporting period, the bank organized over 202,600 financial education activities, reaching more than 1.856 billion individuals.

Additionally, 15,000 bank outlets established “ICBC Sharing Stations.” Utilizing the “ICBC Sharing Station” service platform, the bank enhanced collaboration with volunteer service organizations, offering volunteer services, assistance, and other public welfare initiatives to the community, thereby creating a “warm home” of volunteering, care, and support.

Furthermore, ICBC harnessed the Group’s social donation functions to assist the poor and vulnerable populations. It encouraged and guided employees to participate in volunteer activities, expanded community service channels, and supported social charity efforts.

How did ICBC identify and work on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts?

In its 2024 Sustainability Report ICBC reports that it identified and worked on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts as follows:

Aligned with national strategic priorities, ICBC intensified its financial support for emerging high-quality productive forces. It continued to deepen, implement, and refine the “Five Priorities,” while innovating across sectors such as green finance, inclusive finance, technology finance, pension finance, and digital finance. By providing higher-quality financial services, ICBC advanced sustainable economic and social development and fulfilled its role and responsibilities as a major state-owned bank.

ICBC established a comprehensive green finance system that integrates strategic planning, policy guidance, product innovation, and research collaboration to promote the comprehensive green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and society. Building on its extensive experience, the bank further promoted its green finance brand, “ICBC Green Bank+.” It continuously enhanced its green credit management system, refined guidance for industry credit policies, and incorporated green development indicators as key criteria. ICBC also developed binding environmental credit policies and integrated environmental, social, and climate-related risks into the entire credit management process. As of the end of the reporting period, the balance of green loans under the NFRA criteria surpassed RMB 6 trillion.

ICBC’s inclusive lending continued to grow, further strengthening its support for financing needs. As of the end of the reporting period, the total balance of the bank’s inclusive small and micro enterprise loans reached RMB 2.89 trillion, reflecting an increase of RMB 665.563 billion or 29.9% compared to the beginning of the year. ICBC served 2,083,400 inclusive loan customers, an increase of 616,600 or over 40% from the start of the year. The bank’s inclusive financial services received recognition through 15 significant awards, including the “2024 Cases of Innovative Practices in Building a Financial Powerhouse” awarded by people.cn. Additionally, it was rated as “Class A” in the 2023 Regulatory Evaluation of Financial Services for Small and Micro Enterprises by the National Financial Regulatory Administration.

ICBC prioritized the development of technology finance by accelerating the refinement and enhancement of the “five specialized” service system for technology finance. It provided high-quality financial services to technology enterprises, supporting their pursuit of advanced technological self-reliance and innovation. As of the end of the reporting period, the total loans to strategic emerging industries surpassed RMB 3.1 trillion.

To align with national strategies, improve public well-being, and support the silver economy, ICBC developed the Action Plan for Promoting Pension Finance Development. This plan introduced the “1134 Project” framework for pension finance and outlined over 50 measures to foster the growth of pension finance.

ICBC actively implemented the national strategy to strengthen China’s cyberspace capabilities and build a digital China. It fully supported the development of the digital economy by enhancing comprehensive financial support for key areas such as new digital infrastructure construction, innovation and addressing vulnerabilities in digital technology, promoting the healthy growth of the platform economy, and advancing industry digital transformation. The bank also facilitated major project development and the innovative growth of key enterprises. Additionally, it thoroughly advanced the development of D-ICBC, leveraging “data and technology” to empower business operations, accelerating the cultivation of new high-quality productive forces, and strengthening digital driving forces to promote high-quality growth.

 

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 ICBC, 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://v.icbc.com.cn/userfiles/resources/icbcltd/download/2025/esg2024en.pdf

Note to ICBC: 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.