Strengthened by our solid founding values, we look to the future with confidence, committing ourselves to carry out our business effectively, in order to support our customers and stakeholders.
These values are also reflected in the Business Plan, which enounce the perspective of a "Bank acting as a Bank", focused on its own distinctive areas, intent on growing and determined to keep high the ambition of a social sustainability.
The enhancement of diversity and inclusion represents a priority for us, for this reason we joined “Valore D”, the first Italian association of large companies committed to promoting an inclusive corporate culture, without discrimination, capable of bringing out everyone's talent through the promotion of diversity.
Furthermore, as evidence of the growing sensitivity towards these issues, we have decided to sign Italian Banking Association Charter "Women in bank", a document supporting signatories in their commitment to equal opportunities.
Key numbers
Policy related to financing the sector of manufacture and trade armaments
BPS Group undertakes its commitment to manage exposures to the armaments sector, in full compliance with national and international laws, acting in favour of the “peace economics” as a necessary condition for real sustainable development.
The Group recognizes the pivotal role of the financial sector, in a coherent and transparent manner by encouraging dialogue with its stakeholders.
Specifically, the Policy outlines the principles and guidelines that the Group follows in its decision-making and operational processes.
Full exclusion of operations with parties involved in the sector of controversial weapons
In order to adopt a differentiated approach, the Policy, which recalls specific internal legislation regarding transactions under Law No. 185/1990 (“New regulations on controlling the exports, imports and transit of military goods”), provides a categorization of the weapons types and activities of the companies operating in the armaments sector, defining the controversial weapons as:
- Anti-personnel mines as defined by Ottawa Treaty (1997) and by Law No. 220/2021;
- Cluster munitions and submunitions as defined by Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008) and by Law No. 220/2021;
- Nuclear weapons (see the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1970);
- Biological weapons and Chemical weapons as defined by the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (1972) and by the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993), respectively.
The Group excludes any type of financial exposure towards subjects involved with controversial weapons, including those incurred through subsidiary companies registered in Italy or abroad. Non-exhaustive examples include: lending and financing in any form, issuing of financial guarantees, acquisition of shares, acquisition or underwriting of financial instruments (Art.2, Law no. 220/2021).
In detail, the measures adopted for each financial exposure:
| INVESTMENT: |
Counterparties screening through specialized info providers, regarding:
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| FINANCING: |
Counterparties screening through IT tool (enhanced due diligence). |
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TRANSACTIONS: |
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The Policy identifies specific control systems for all entities operating in the armaments sector, whether involving conventional weapons or residual categories. Additionally, the counterparties in the armaments sector commit to comply with its provisions through a Declaration of Commitment, to be signed upon signing the contractual agreement.
Initiatives
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ESG training
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Support for the internationalization of companies
We offer companies numerous free initiatives which aim to share clear and up-to-date information on the opportunities offered by foreign markets, but also to help Italian companies to explore new business opportunities, in the light of the fact that international markets evolve rapidly, and economic operators must remain constantly updated to be successful.
In total, 21 initiatives were carried out in 2023 with 2,787 participants. Internationalization initiatives are meant not only to disseminate clear and up-to-date information on the opportunities provided by foreign markets, but also to support Italian companies in reaching a wider audience, given the fast-changing nature of international markets and the need, for economic agents, to constantly update in order to succeed.
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Nonsolobanca
The strong link with the local area and the Community is achieved not only through traditional banking activities, but also through intensive cultural promotion activities.
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ESG suppliers assessment
In line with the definitions outlined in the 2022-2025 Industrial Plan, in 2023 we launched a project to assess the sustainability performance of our suppliers. A representative sample of 80% of the turnover towards the Bank was used.
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Remuneration policies
Since 2023, the Remuneration Policies for senior management are linked to the achievement of the following ESG goals:
- ESG ratings: ensuring a solid positioning of the Bank in the main ESG ratings;
- ESG credit and finance: expanding the offering of ESG products and related volumes;
- ESG bonds: increasing the Bank’s ESG funding activity with new green and social bond issues;
- CO2 emissions: reducing direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2 and 3) emissions;
- ESG initiatives: joining international initiatives relating to environmental and social Sustainability;
- ESG training: integrating sustainability related issues into corporate training programs based on a comprehensive and wide-ranging approach.
As of 2024, the proposed Remuneration Policies submitted for Shareholders’ approval at the General Meeting provide for the increase in the percentage of ESG parameters from 5% to 10% and the replacement of the “achievement of training hours in the ESG area” with the “completion of the Operational Plan on Diversity and Inclusion” parameter.