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Raiffeisen Bank International | Sustainability Report 2017
GRI content index / Assurance statement Engaged citizen Fair partner Responsible banker Sustainability management Overview Foreword
Responsible banker
As a “responsible banker”, long-term added value is our primary objective. Therefore, our business strategy as
well as our products, services and processes are aligned with this goal. To achieve this, we take a holistic approach.
Rather than limiting ourselves purely to economic added value, we always consider the environmental and social
impacts of our business activities as well. Only by considering these factors is it possible to make effectively
sustainable contributions.
The most effective leverage factor is to be found in the core business. RBI therefore believes that granting loans
and investment of funds represent both our primary responsibility and the most important fields of action for creating
sustainable success. In all business areas and products, RBI strives assiduously to structure its business and business
relationships for long-term resilience, to avoid social and environmental risks and to take advantage of opportunities
to improve environmental protection and social standards.
Impacts, risks and opportunities
Only by knowing the impacts of our business activities on the environment and society can we pursue a serious
policy of sustainability and align the company strategy accordingly with this goal. However, the sustainability
impact of the core business of a bank is felt across a wide range of aspects consisting of many opportunities as
well as risks. For instance, when considering the economic added value from the business activities, we make an
indisputable contribution to the stability, resilience and productivity of the economic system. On the other hand,
this naturally poses the risk that the real economy could become caught up in the problems that arise from the
financial economy. The question of just distribution of the added value among stakeholders – in particular
shareholders, employees and customers – is often a controversial one as well.
The structuring and sustainability of the products and services we offer play important roles here. As a bank, it is
up to us to make funding available for the implementation of sustainable projects or to refrain from supporting the
realization of projects that are not sustainable. In deciding to whom and for what purpose we provide loans, we
have an impact on the environment and the climate as well as social issues ranging from health to human rights,
for example. By considering environmental and social aspects (including human rights) or stipulating requirements
in our financing decisions, we also motivate our customers to change their perspective. This also applies to our
own investments and the funds managed by our capital investment company (“active ownership”). We believe
that possessing a certain market power is a great responsibility, one we wish to exercise in accordance with our
principles for the good of society. Analoguously, the same also applies to the extensive accumulation and
processing of customer data (big data). We have an impact on the transformation of business and consumption
in the direction of greater sustainability and we are in a position to incentivize or support such innovations. The
financing of infrastructure investments also plays a major role. Inevitably, our business activities leave behind not
only an environmental footprint but a social footprint as well.
The impacts of our activities are also still felt in other areas. We also make a contribution to supporting the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (see “Sustainable financing” starting on page 57). For example,
disadvantaged groups of the population can attain greater equality in socio-economic respects through
purposefully designed products and information offers (see “Initiatives for improving access to financial products
for disadvantaged groups of the population” on page 74). We also have an obligation to ensure that we do not
contribute to the over-indebtedness of customers through granting loans irresponsibly, thereby endangering the
existence of these (see “Responsible lending” on page 50). Another worthy goal is achieving and maintaining
a foundational awareness of the concepts of saving, preparing for the future and economic responsibility as well
as an associated product base, which we support with our investment products (see “Sustainable investment
products” starting on page 64). All this in turn has an influence on the prosperity and quality of life of the population.