According to the bank’s press service, NKR rated Sber with AAA ESG, the top tier for environmental, social, and governance standards. The exceptional environmental score reflects the large share of green assets in Sber’s portfolio and a multi-layered framework for evaluating and managing ESG risks.
As Sberbank’s Senior Vice President for ESG, Tatyana Zavyalova, noted, Sber became the first Russian company to receive the highest ESG rating from NKR.
“We earned the maximum score in three categories: environmental, social, and governance. The bank’s elevated rating is driven, among other things, by supporting sustainable regional development in Russia, issuing its own green bonds, and maintaining a high proportion of ESG loans, including green, adaptation, and social loans,” she explained.
Zavyalova also highlighted that Sber’s responsible financing portfolio continues to expand. By the third quarter of 2023, it reached a record level of 2 trillion rubles. She emphasized that this growth underscores the green agenda’s significance and the central role of ESG principles for Sber’s customers and partners.
It was noted that NKR places substantial value on Sber’s measures and programs aimed at lowering its carbon footprint, boosting resource efficiency, and advancing responsible waste management.
The elevated score in the social component of the rating reflects high standards of employee protection and meaningful investments in developing human capital. The agency also pointed to Sber’s consistent and high-quality execution of projects in sustainable development. Simultaneously, the maximum score for governance demonstrates a mature corporate and risk-management framework within Sber.
Sberbank stated that the leadership recognition stems from the effective adoption and implementation of formal ESG policies, including the bank’s commitments to social responsibility, environmental stewardship, corporate governance, and sustainable development practices.
Industry observers view the rating as a signal of Sber’s ongoing commitment to aligning financial activities with long-term environmental and social outcomes. Analysts note that such ratings can influence financing costs, partner collaboration, and the bank’s ability to scale green and social lending programs while maintaining prudent governance standards. The ESG achievement is expected to reinforce confidence among investors, government bodies, and Russian regional authorities seeking sustainable financial solutions in a changing global market [Citation: NKR press service].