Awards for Excellence 2020
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BNP Paribas has sustainability and inclusiveness at its heart, as shown in its approach to all of its stakeholders. This year the bank wins the award for the region’s best bank for corporate responsibility.
It is a comprehensive commitment. In September 2019, the bank launched its inaugural ocean protection policy and committed €1 billion by 2025 to finance the ecological transition of ships; while BNP Paribas Asset Management is assessing the seafood sourcing and plastic packaging strategies of companies in the consumer sector.
On the social side, the bank has made similar business and internal commitments to help build markets. In February this year BNPP and the European Investment Fund launched a €10 million fund to co-invest in social impact bonds in the EU.
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Claudia Belli |
In the communities it serves, the bank works to support young entrepreneurs, improve social mobility and support those that may not have access to financing. In 2019, BNPP renewed its support plan for the integration of refugees by pledging €4.5 million over three years.
This commitment to society is also evidenced by the amount of support the bank has offered during the Covid-19 crisis as well as by its work in financial inclusion led by Claudia Belli, head of social business and microfinance.
Compte Nickel in France, for example, provides a bank account to anyone that needs it for €20 a year without any minimum earnings requirements. As of the end of 2019, 1.5 million accounts had been opened – 75% of them by individuals earning less than the minimum wage. It has been so successful in helping French citizens living on the margins – particularly migrants – that BNPP is launching a similar project in Spain.
In Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and the Netherlands, the bank is funding and investing in some of the largest microfinance institutions.
BNPP has its own commitment to inclusion. At the end of last year, its executive committee signed up to the #JamaisSansElles charter, becoming the first company from the CAC40 to join this movement.
The male members of the group’s executive committee have made a commitment to no longer take part in any events that involve more than three people without any women being present.
This commitment to inclusion from the top is further evidenced for the LGBTQ+ community. BNPP’s Pride network has year-round events.
