Itaú Unibanco Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:51:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Case study: How Itaú Unibanco identifies and works on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-itau-unibanco-identifies-and-works-on-strategic-business-opportunities/ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:50:10 +0000 https://sustaincase.com/?p=21869 Itaú Unibanco is the largest private bank in Brazil by market value and holds the title of the most valuable brand in Latin America, with an estimated worth of US$8.7 billion according to Brand Finance’s 2023 Global 500 Ranking. Offering a comprehensive range of industry products in Brazil through its various brands and strategic partnerships, Itaú Unibanco provides a wide array of services across multiple channels, establishing itself as a full-service, universal bank. The bank also features discounts, promotions, and exclusive benefits, delivering solutions for everyday activities and creating a beyond banking ecosystem. Its offerings are designed to meet the […]

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]]> Itaú Unibanco is the largest private bank in Brazil by market value and holds the title of the most valuable brand in Latin America, with an estimated worth of US$8.7 billion according to Brand Finance’s 2023 Global 500 Ranking. Offering a comprehensive range of industry products in Brazil through its various brands and strategic partnerships, Itaú Unibanco provides a wide array of services across multiple channels, establishing itself as a full-service, universal bank. The bank also features discounts, promotions, and exclusive benefits, delivering solutions for everyday activities and creating a beyond banking ecosystem. Its offerings are designed to meet the needs of all types of individuals and corporate clients, both domestically in Brazil and internationally. Itaú Unibanco is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and is, accordingly, identifying and working on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2024 ESG Supplementary Index by Itaú Unibanco 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.

Layout 1

Which Principles for Responsible Banking have been addressed?

The Principles for Responsible Banking addressed in this case are:

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.

Itaú Unibanco continuously takes into account the opinions and expectations of its stakeholders, gathered through public meetings, relationship channels, targeted surveys, investor expressions of interest, feedback from ESG rating agencies, results from corporate sustainability indexes, and public opinion.

Between 2023 and 2024, Itaú Unibanco reassessed its ESG materiality. The goal was to evaluate the progress of relevant topics, both within and outside the organization, as well as the current challenges and impacts of its business. This review aims to ensure alignment with Itaú Unibanco’s global strategy and to reflect the perspectives of the diverse audiences with whom Itaú Unibanco engages.

The process of identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing material issues involved input from Itaú Unibanco’s employees, internal leaders, clients, shareholders, investors, market analysts, supply chain partners, sustainability experts (such as ESG rating agencies and corporate sustainability indexes), civil society representatives, and specialized consultancies.

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

In its 2024 ESG Supplementary Index Itaú Unibanco reports that it identified and worked on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts as follows:

The Sustainable Finance pillar, one of the three key pillars guiding Itaú Unibanco’s actions and transforming its approach, aims to leverage financial tools to promote sustainable development. It involves integrating ESG themes into Itaú Unibanco’s business practices through research, advocacy and the creation of new products, services, and opportunities. By financing its clients’ projects, Itaú Unibanco allocates resources to foster societal transformation.

Itaú Unibanco has implemented various measures to ensure that natural variables are incorporated into its internal processes, as well as its relationships with clients, suppliers, and society at large. These include managing natural risks in sectors and operations with a higher potential to impact biodiversity, offering financial products dedicated to conservation and restoration, and supporting projects that directly or indirectly work to protect biodiversity.

 

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 Itaú Unibanco, 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://api.mziq.com/mzfilemanager/v2/d/42787847-4cf6-4461-94a5-40ed237dca33/c742d04c-7282-bcab-b831-88e521fe5bd0?origin=2

Note to Itaú Unibanco: 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.

The post Case study: How Itaú Unibanco identifies and works on strategic business opportunities to increase positive and reduce negative impacts appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Kyushu Financial Group works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-kyushu-financial-group-works-with-clients-and-customers-to-encourage-sustainable-practices/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 06:03:40 +0000 https://sustaincase.com/?p=19744 Kyushu Financial Group offers a wide range of financial services primarily in Central and Southern Kyushu, Japan. Its subsidiaries include Higo Bank, Kagoshima Bank, and Kyushu FG Securities. While banking remains the core of its operations, the Group also provides additional services such as credit card offerings, trust services, credit guaranteeing, and financial instruments transactions. This case study is based on the FY2024 PRB Report by Kyushu Financial Group, 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, […]

The post Case study: How Kyushu Financial Group works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Kyushu Financial Group offers a wide range of financial services primarily in Central and Southern Kyushu, Japan. Its subsidiaries include Higo Bank, Kagoshima Bank, and Kyushu FG Securities. While banking remains the core of its operations, the Group also provides additional services such as credit card offerings, trust services, credit guaranteeing, and financial instruments transactions. Kyushu Financial Group 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 FY2024 PRB Report by Kyushu Financial Group, 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.

Layout 1

Which Principles for Responsible Banking have been addressed?

The Principles for Responsible Banking addressed in this case are:

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.

Kyushu Financial Group emphasizes engagement and cooperation with its stakeholders to foster a sustainable local community. As a regional financial institution with strong roots in Central and Southern Kyushu, particularly in Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki Prefectures, Kyushu Financial Group continues to strengthen its ties with local governments and businesses. The Group is committed to fulfilling its role as a financial institution that collaborates closely with the community.

Partnership agreements with municipalities for local revitalization

  • Kumamoto Prefecture: 18 municipalities
  • Kagoshima Prefecture: 7 municipalities
  • Miyazaki Prefecture: 1 municipality

Partnership agreements with local companies

  • Higo Bank and Kyushu Electric Power Kumamoto Branch
    1. Supporting local customers’ decarbonization
    2. Decarbonizing the Higo Bank Group
    3. Protecting Kumamoto’s rich natural environment
    4. Other actions deemed necessary by the companies concerning local decarbonization
  • Kagoshima Bank and Kyushu Electric Power Kagoshima Branch
    1. Promoting the use of renewable energy
    2. Maximizing electrification and energy efficiency
    3. Developing educational activities for a decarbonized society
    4. Collaborating with municipalities and others in the above efforts to address local issues and encourage regional revitalization
    5. Other actions deemed necessary by the companies for decarbonization

Participation in domestic and international initiatives

To fulfill its social responsibility as a financial institution and meet global expectations such as the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, the Group engages in various initiatives for a sustainable community:

  • PCAF (Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials): Joined in May 2022 to enhance the measurement and disclosure of indirect greenhouse gas emissions through investments and loans.
  • GX (Green Transformation) League: Endorsed the GX League Basic Concept to support Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal and global carbon neutrality, working with companies, universities, and the government for sustainable growth.
  • TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures): Participated in the TNFD Forum in September 2022 and became a TNFD Early Adopter in January 2024.

How did Kyushu Financial Group work with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities?

In its FY2024 PRB Report Kyushu Financial Group reports that it works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities as follows:

In the “Sustainability Declaration” established in 2019, Kyushu Financial Group is dedicated to fostering deeper dialogue with customers and the local community, while expanding efforts to create a sustainable society across the entire region.

To promote responsible relationships with its customers, the Group has set forth a common sustainability policy. Through engagement with local communities, Kyushu Financial Group is working to address various social challenges, such as climate change and human rights concerns, through dialogue. This includes:

  • Environmental Policy
  • Human Rights Policy
  • Sustainable Investment and Loan Policy
  • Biodiversity Protection Policy

At Higo Bank and Kagoshima Bank, the Sustainability Promotion Office (both banks), the Corporate Consulting Division (Higo Bank), and the Regional Support Division (Kagoshima Bank) are central to identifying customer needs and challenges in the transition to a sustainable business model and providing support as a unified group.

 

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 Kyushu Financial 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.kyushu-fg.co.jp/english/assets/pdf/csr/initiative_prb_01.pdf

Note to Kyushu Financial 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.

The post Case study: How Kyushu Financial Group works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Itaú Unibanco works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-itau-unibanco-works-with-clients-and-customers-to-encourage-sustainable-practices/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:01:00 +0000 https://sustaincase.com/?p=19728 Itaú Unibanco is a publicly listed financial institution, organized under Brazilian law. Its shares are traded on the Brazilian stock exchange (B3) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Itaú Unibanco operates in 18 countries and territories across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with its main activities focused on Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management, Private Banking, and Retail operations. This case study is based on the 2023 Supplementary Index by Itaú Unibanco, 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 […]

The post Case study: How Itaú Unibanco works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Itaú Unibanco is a publicly listed financial institution, organized under Brazilian law. Its shares are traded on the Brazilian stock exchange (B3) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Itaú Unibanco operates in 18 countries and territories across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with its main activities focused on Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management, Private Banking, and Retail operations. Itaú Unibanco 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 Supplementary Index by Itaú Unibanco, 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.

Layout 1

Which Principles for Responsible Banking have been addressed?

The Principles for Responsible Banking addressed in this case are:

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 2023, Itaú Unibanco engaged various stakeholders—such as clients, non-clients, employees, shareholders, investors, suppliers, service providers, civil society, experts, and opinion leaders—at different stages of identifying, analysing, and prioritizing its material issues.

This process was led by the Sustainability and Investor Relations departments, with the support of an external consultant, to align with new market criteria and standards. So far, the steps of scope identification, surveying potential topics through secondary data, and conducting online surveys and interviews with key stakeholders to gauge their views on material ESG issues have been completed.

Itaú Unibanco also considered significant market trends, the regulatory landscape, and stakeholder opinions and expectations as reflected in public meetings, communication channels, targeted surveys, investor interest statements, SASB sector materiality maps, feedback from ESG rating agencies, corporate sustainability index results, and public sentiment, as part of Itaú Unibanco’s strategic review.

The findings are also presented at Itaú Unibanco’s Governance forums and shared and discussed internally with business and back-office teams to develop integrated action plans addressing identified risks and opportunities.

How did Itaú Unibanco work with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities?

In its 2023 Supplementary Index Itaú Unibanco reports that it works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities as follows:

Responsible Investment
In 2023, Itaú Unibanco conducted over 453 client engagement meetings and organized 35 events and capacity-building courses with companies and institutions from various sectors, focusing on the sustainable and climate finance agenda. These included case studies and market best practice.

Itaú Unibanco also issued a monthly newsletter with market data and news relevant to environmental, social, and climate-related issues affecting its clients, such as emissions from Brazilian businesses in domestic and international markets, regulatory updates, climate solutions, and innovations in the ESG ecosystem.

ESG Integration into Investments
Since 2010, Itaú Unibanco has been refining its ESG business valuation models, aligned with international initiatives like SASB and TCFD. These models aim to estimate the financial impact of material ESG factors on its investees’ businesses, using traditional valuation techniques. This not only offers managers a clearer understanding of the associated risks and opportunities but also encourages investee businesses to adopt best practices.

ESG Advisory
Itaú Unibanco’s dedicated Business team advises clients and originates ESG-related transactions at Itaú BBA. Itaú Unibanco offers free ESG advisory services to target clients, encouraging them and recurring issuers to integrate ESG considerations into their business models in anticipation of future trends.

 

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 Itaú Unibanco, 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.itau.com.br/download-file/v2/d/42787847-4cf6-4461-94a5-40ed237dca33/9e913502-e032-a766-457e-31ac6fc0a6df?origin=2

Note to Itaú Unibanco: 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.

The post Case study: How Itaú Unibanco works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

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