Alignment

Sustainability Policy of Santander Bank Polska

Our philosophy of sustainable development has been defined in the ”Sustainability Policy of Santander Bank Polska (Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR)”. The policy includes a number of voluntary ethical, social and environmental commitments exceeding by far the scope of applicable legal requirements and its key objective is to manage the social and environmental risk and to build long-term value for all stakeholders.

The Sustainability Policy is accompanied by a range of more specific internal regulations in force in the bank, including:

Natural environment

”Climate Change Policy”
Human rights

”Human Rights Policy”
Social engagement

”Corporate Volunteering Policy”
Responsible investments

sector risk management policies applicable to sensitive sectors, such as the defence, energy or wood industry

Our strategy

[Custom indicator 1] Description of the bank's strategy, including the management approach to responsible business and sustainable development

Our business activities aimed at creating values for our key stakeholders are conducted with a view to stakeholder expectations in the process of making business decisions and in the spirit of responsibility for our environmental footprint. We believe that this is the only approach that can be adopted in order to pursue the path of continuous, sustainable development and create economic and social value. In this way, we can also contribute to the achievement of selected Sustainable Development Goals which our organization perceives as crucial from the point of view of our impact.

Goal 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 9

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 11

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 17

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Our approach to the management of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development is defined in the Responsible Banking Strategy which identifies priority areas of responsibility responsible and sets specific goals which we want to achieve.

GRI:

[103-1, 103-2, 103-3] for the reporting Aspect: Green finance
[103-1, 103-2, 103-3] for the reporting Aspect: Preventing financial exclusion and financial education
[103-1, 103-2, 103-3] for the reporting Aspect: Accessibility of products and services

Goal: To support environment-friendly solutions instrumental in facing the current global challenges and helping to improve the quality of life in such areas as the wellbeing of the society, health, security and counteracting climate change.

Goal:To promote inclusion of persons excluded from the market of financial services for various reasons, such as unavailability of a dedicated product and service offer. To foster growth and progress in the society by supporting inclusive and sustainable development projects.

Activity areas:

Electric car leasing – a product dedicated to financing of electric cars.
Financing green buildings.
Financing the construction of commercial and residential buildings with environmental certificates (BREEAM or LEED).
Educating employees at all levels of the organization who have direct contact with clients in social and environmental aspects at the stage of applying for and sanctioning investment loans.

Activity areas:

Financing and supporting small businesses: providing assistance to start-ups, financing training for entrepreneurs, facilitating the operation of their businesses by offering preferential products and services.
Banking services for unemployed and low-income customers.
Solutions facilitating the use of banking products and services by seniors and persons with disabilities.
Increasing access to education to promote the development of talents and educational equality and inclusion.
Entrepreneurship and professional development to improve the opportunities of young people on the labour market.
Supporting digital transformation at universities.

Did you know?

The Principles for Responsible Banking will be officially adopted in September 2019 at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Four years ago, the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the same forum.
So far 49 organizations from all over the world have committed to respecting the Principles.