Strategy

Sustainable business operations

Our business operations are based on a moderate risk profile, we pursue a sustainable HR policy and we continue to reduce our ecological footprints.

Clients' interest centre stage and sustainable relationships

We communicate in plain language, we are making our financial reporting more transparent, we engage with stakeholders and we advise clients on responsible banking and entrepreneurship.

Financial expertise for the benefit of society

We encourage our employees to put their financial expertise to work as volunteers for people in vulnerable or deprived situations. We also help social entrepreneurs and invest our own money in social enterprises.

Sustainable finance and investment services

When assessing clients and credit applications, we apply guidelines addressing possible ecological, social and ethical risks.

Policy

Our sustainability policy defines the principles of our approach and how we manage sustainability risks. 

ABN AMRO’s sustainability policy sets out the principles that guide our approach towards sustainability risk management related to banking and business relations. Based on this policy, ABN AMRO has put a Sustainability Risk Management Framework in place. This coherent set of policies, guidelines and statements describes how we manage our sustainability risks and embed them in our decision-making processes. It sets out the conditions under which we engage with our clients, suppliers and investors. Through this process, the bank ensures that sustainability risks are adequately identified, analysed, mitigated, managed, monitored and reported. The framework has been approved by the bank’s highest risk assessment body.

Guidelines

Joining forces for a sustainable economy: Not only do we critically select our business partners, we also encourage companies to do business more sustainably and offer them our expertise to this end. For example, we are willing to extend loans to businesses that may not be ‘ecoproof’ but that are eager for us to help them improve in this area. Our sustainability guidelines are tailored to specific sectors of the economy. 

Businesses in the textiles industry, to name but one example, can consult the Sustainable Fashion Guide to establish whether they are trailblazers or whether they lag behind their peers in terms of sustainability. They can also use the guide to determine how best to move forward. It’s not only the environment that benefits, but also a company’s working conditions and image. In this way, we are joining forces for a sustainable economy.

Exclusions

ABN AMRO does not want to be involved in activities that have a negative effect on people or planet, wherever in the world its business takes it. For example, we do not want to be involved in the financing of the production of cigarettes or the development of new coal fired plants. Even though it is permitted by law – we don’t consider this to be ecologically, socially and ethically responsible. By the same token, we were one of the first major Dutch banks to draw up an Exclusion List​​, which we observe strictly and update regularly in response to new insights on sustainability. In addition, we exclude companies​ who are involved in controversial weapons.