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Impacts, risks and opportunities
The great significance of commitment to society and the environment and the associated high expectations of
internal and external stakeholders have been repeatedly confirmed in numerous surveys.
As a member of society, RBI contributes to the common good beyond its business activities in all the countries in
which it is present. As a result, we see opportunities but no significant risks in our commitment as a corporate citizen.
Poverty eradication, integration, and solidarity are important goals of our social commitment. We advocate for
social sustainability in terms of reducing poverty, fostering better educational prospects and equal opportunity,
fairer distribution of income, and for treating people with respect, regardless of their origins.
Derived from the cooperative principle and the motto “Help for self-help”, RBI sees its contribution in upholding
positive social values. Its commitment in this area is visible in, among other things, support for all kinds of cultural
projects. Furthermore, RBI is not only a regional economic multiplier, but also takes numerous measures to
strengthen the regional economic and social structures of the markets in which it operates. The declared goal
of RBI is to establish responsible corporate management and to promote sustainable innovations – including by
strengthening the business locations group-wide. RBI creates and secures jobs in these regions. And, the company
promotes sustainable business via strategically-chosen memberships, and activities in organizations (see also the
“Economic Footprint in Austria” chapter starting on page 45).
Of course, as a financial sector company, RBI believes that improving knowledge about how to handle money is
very important. It therefore actively supports such initiatives, such as by seeking to increase individuals’ responsibility
for their personal finances whether they are RBI clients or not. In addition, RBI contributes to society by initiating
corporate volunteering programs, supporting various social projects, and entering into partnerships with NPOs
and NGOs.
With these projects, RBI is driving the reduction of inequality and poverty, often with support from many employees.
It thus contributes to securing social peace, which is possible only through satisfying human needs such as lifelong
learning, employment, and prosperity. Through selected memberships and activities, RBI gets involved in
organizations that promote sustainable business activities as well as the framework conditions required for them.
At the same time, it seeks to raise awareness of environmental issues in order to protect those ultimately deprived of
their livelihoods due to the impacts of global climate change.
Digital change
To interpret digitization as a purely technological advance – the provision of new tools to make people’s lives
easier – would be overly simplistic. The digital shift is being accompanied by broad-based changes in society.
From RBI’s perspective, digitization as a societal process can be successful only if people are included at
every stage.
The fact that more and more companies are getting involved as corporate citizens shows that society increasingly
expects them to engage in responsible corporate management. This involves in particular the need for information,
transparency, and participation. The topic of connectivity, which digitization makes easier than ever to achieve,
is a perfect reflection of what Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen stood for more than 130 years ago: People working
together can achieve what one person cannot manage alone. This principle is something that needs to be
transferred into the future. Digitization and corporate social responsibility are not a means to an end, but must
involve a benefit for people.
Raiffeisen Bank International | Sustainability Report 2018