Akbank’s Sustainability Vision

Our Sustainability Vision

The sustainability vision of our bank is to be a sustainability leader in Turkey, and one of the leading establishments in the world.​​

Our Sustainability Strategy

In order to attain its sustainability vision, Akbank aims to efficiently manage high priority environmental, social, ethical and economic risks and opportunities that arise in our products, services and operations. By performing a prioritization analysis, we identified the high priority and material issues that are required for the Bank to achieve success, and regarding which our stakeholders expect excellent performance from our Bank, and we created and began to implement a sustainability strategy by identifying relevant risks and opportunities.

Differentiating from the competition with our sound financial fundamentals and mutual interaction-oriented relationships with stakeholders, Akbank’s sustainability strategy has been identified as: supporting the economic growth of Turkey and the Bank’s customers; providing products and services that increase social welfare without compromising on ethical and secure banking principles; and minimizing the environmental impact of its operations.

The fundamental goal in implementing this strategy is to improve our corporate performance by following the roadmaps we devise for every kind of import​ant and material issue and by making commitments.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL POLICIES
CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGEMENT UNDER CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE GUIDANCE

​Akbank's solution strategies for the global climate change are shaped by the Corporate Governance Committee that directly reports to our Board of Directors. In addition, the International Advisory Board also contributes to the Bank's vision. Investor Relations and Sustainability Department ensures coordination and management of the issue within our Bank. Other departments such as Branch Operations, Architectural Works, and Personnel Management are responsible for collecting data, including energy consumption and implementation of energy saving practices. 

Risk and Opportunity Oriented Assessment Approach​

Climate change, which is caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the earth's atmosphere, poses major risks for societies today. Heat waves of increasing frequency and intensity, floods, droughts, and extreme weather conditions due to climate change have the potential to have negative impacts on industries such as forestry, fishing, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and construction, among others. Climate change laws, rules and regulations that have been enacted or are likely be put into effect in Turkey and its trading partners pose the risk of legal incompliance and extra investment costs to fight climate change. It is anticipated that companies with large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions such as the ones in transportation and aviation industries will be impacted by the aforementioned laws and regulations. 

A Service Approach to Mitigate Risks

Akbank continually updates its risk management approach in the face of the adverse impacts of climate change on human activities. By embracing a proactive approach to risk management, the Bank strives to effectively manage climate change-based risks and turn threats into opportunities. Akbank closely monitors the changes in laws and regulations related to energy efficiency and renewable energy, which gain in prominence in Turkey by the day, with its specialized staff, and carries out comprehensive compliance efforts. In addition, Akbank continues to offer products and services in energy efficiency and renewable energy to corporate clients on relatively favorable terms. In addition, the Bank measures the carbon emissions stemming from its operations and business travel, and undertakes initiatives to minimize these emissions.​

AKBANK’S SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS

Our Sustainability Related Commitments

Advancing with confidence towards its corporate goals with its sustainable financial and operational performance, Akbank takes into consideration the environmental and social impacts of all its operations. The Bank’s sustainability-related commitments to stakeholders are summarized below:​

  • Financial Performance
    Sustainable profitability and growth: Akbank aims to ensure the sustainability of its financial and operational achievements by diversifying its range of products in the light of customer needs and expectations.

  • Sustainability Management
    Roles and Responsibilities: Coordinating with the Investor Relations and Sustainability Department, Akbank aims to develop action plans to guide its sustainability strategy and to implement them.
    Sustainability in the supply chain: Akbank aims to secure commitments from the Bank’s suppliers with regards to their compliance with Akbank’s Code of Ethics and sustainability policies.
    Employee awareness: Akbank aims to take advantage of advances in education technologies to provide more comprehensive and creative sustainability training to stakeholders.
    Dialog with shareholders: Akbank aims to raise productivity to new heights by increasing stakeholder participation.

  • Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Legal Compliance
    Transparent corporate management: Having adopted the principle of developing mutual trust-based relations with shareholders in addition to current and potential investors, Akbank is determined to execute the Bank’s corporate governance on the basis of accountability.
    Information security: Closely monitoring innovations and developments in information security, Akbank aims to prepare more comprehensive training programs.

  • Our Customers
    Customer Satisfaction: Akbank plans to continue improving its products and services in line with unconditional customer satisfaction.
    Environment-oriented products and services: Akbank aims to contribute to environmental sustainability with the loans it offers for energy conservation and renewable energy projects in the upcoming period as well.
    Environmental and Social Risk Management in Loans: Akbank aims to increase awareness with regards to environmental and social risk management among all employees involved in lending processes.
    Innovative products and services to facilitate access to financial services: Our Bank aims to maintain its technological competitive edge by upholding its innovative approach to service.

  • Environmental Impacts of Our Operations
    Our environmental impact: In the upcoming period, Akbank plans to continue minimizing the likely environmental impact and natural resource consumption of its operations.
    Carbon emissions: Akbank aims to maintain its active support of initiatives combatting climate change in the upcoming period.

  • Our Contributions to Society
    Contributing to society via sponsorships: In the upcoming period Akbank, which has positioned itself as an exemplary corporate citizen, plans to continue lending sponsorship support to projects in its prioritized areas, namely education, entrepreneurship, and arts & culture.
    Contributing to society via employee volunteering: Akbank has adopted the principle of encouraging its employees to participate in community projects on a voluntary basis.
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Akbank’s Sustainability Management Model​