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Our stakeholder approach as a fair partner
RBI is a fair business and dialog partner to all stakeholders. As a partner, we interact in an open and respectful
manner with employees, customers, business partners, shareholders and other stakeholder groups. Transparency
– that is to say, the disclosure of measurable objectives and the reporting of measures taken and the success in
meeting their targets – forms our central, overarching guiding principle.
We foster and promote constructive exchange with our stakeholders. We also endeavor to recognize the needs
of our most important stakeholders, and to act within the scope of our powers.
RBI places great value on fair business and operational practices. This includes fairness and transparency towards
employees, customers and shareholders. Just as important to us is exemplary conduct within our sphere of influence.
In our internal regulations, we have clearly stated that in our pursuit of profit, there must be no violations of law or
of the Code itself. We forgo business that can only take place through such practices.
The rules of fair competition clearly apply to RBI. We feel obliged to offer an outstanding service culture which
strives to exceed the expectations of our customers wherever possible. When making recommendations, we
ensure that they are given in an honest and fair manner and that the customers are adequately informed about
the risks. False or misleading advertising is something we feel is unacceptable.
RBI stands for transparent disclosure and responsible marketing. Our reporting on business activities and
sustainability is conducted transparently and comprehensively, based upon recognized and authorized
international standards (such as the Global Reporting Initiative). As such, our communication with stakeholders
goes beyond the statutory requirements.
At a time when banking is more than ever a matter of trust, the reception that our customers have given us shows
that our fair approach is the correct one. This trust is based on our deep roots in the countries and our relationships
with their people, and also on the efforts made by our employees every day to deepen this trust. We share a
common goal with our customers: Success. We have internalized this company principle and put it into practice
every day, such as in the way we actively offer our customers tailored, personalized solutions based upon their
requirements.
Our employees are our most important asset and the key to the success of RBI. Numerically, they represent the
second largest group of stakeholders, just behind our customers. We encourage them, but we also demand
excellence from them. We are committed to living by the performance principle and promoting team spirit. This
means that we want the very best people, who will become even better with us. In return, we provide systematic
further training, attractive development opportunities and a working atmosphere characterized by team spirit.
We work closely with our shareholders and see them as both dialog partners and consultants. Additionally, we
share an open dialog on many levels with representatives of our stakeholders, and we are active participants in
various forums such as the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the United Nations Environmental Program
Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), Transparency International, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and respACT –
Austrian Business Council for Sustainable Development.
We view environmental and climate protection as part of our responsibility toward society, and we see ourselves
as a fair partner to the environment. The direct environmental impacts of our operational activities are limited
compared with those of production industries. Nevertheless, RBI has the goal of limiting negative environmental
impacts at all of its sites to the greatest possible extent, and – where possible – going beyond basic compliance
with statutory requirements and demands.
A prerequisite in our business and operational practices is the fair, ethical and legally compliant behavior of all
members of our staff. You can find more information about this on page 20 onwards.
A key part of our corporate culture is in-depth communication with our shareholders. This is why we ensure that
their feedback and input is used in our strategies and operations. The result of this is a shared system for the
creation of added value. The shareholders of RBI AG exercise their rights according to the principle of “one
Raiffeisen Bank International | Sustainability Report 2018