According to the bank’s press service, NKR rating agency gave Sber the AAA ESG rating, which is the highest level of compliance with environmental, social and governance standards. The high assessment of the environmental component of Sber’s ESG rating is based on the high share of green assets in the bank’s portfolio and a multi-level system for assessing and controlling ESG risks.
As Sberbank’s Senior Vice President for ESG Tatyana Zavyalova emphasized, Sber became the first Russian company to be awarded the highest ESG rating by NKR.
“We received the maximum score in three aspects: environmental, social and governance. “The bank’s high rating is based, among other things, on supporting the sustainable development of Russian regions, issuing its own green bonds and having a high proportion of ESG loans, green and adaptation loans and social loans,” he said.
Zavyalova also noted that Sber’s responsible financing portfolio continues to grow. Thus, according to the results of the third quarter of 2023, it reached a record figure of 2 trillion rubles. According to him, this confirms the importance of the green agenda and the importance of ESG principles for the bank’s customers and partners.
It was noted that NKR greatly appreciates Sber’s implementation of measures and programs aimed at reducing its carbon footprint, as well as increasing resource use efficiency and responsible waste management.
The high assessment of the social component of the bank’s rating is due to high standards of social protection for employees and the provision of significant investments in the development of human capital. The agency also noted Sber’s consistent and high-quality implementation of projects in the field of sustainable development. At the same time, the maximum score for the management component of the rating reflects the mature level of development and organization of Sber’s corporate and risk management.
Sberbank stated that the appointment of the top level was due to the implementation and effective implementation of corporate ESG documents, including the bank’s policy in the field of social and environmental responsibility, corporate governance and sustainable development.