Center-invest Bank has published its 2023 ESG report, which reveals the principles and results of the bank’s work in the field of environmental, social and corporate responsibility which affect the bank’s sustainable financial performance.

Center-invest Bank has been a pioneer in localising ESG principles in Russia and remains a leader in promoting these principles. The bank has done a lot of work to implement ESG principles in its own technological processes, procedures for lending to its clients, funding, ESG ratings of clients, projects, payments and settlements.

"We have prepared a report that, in terms of its breadth of coverage, can be considered an encyclopaedia of ESG banking methods. In the 2023 ESG report, we presented an overview of proven methods for implementing best practices of corporate and social responsibility that work successfully in any, even crisis conditions," clarifies Vasily Vysokov, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank, Professor, Doctor of Economics.

Over the previous two years, the bank’s profit has doubled, the bank ranks 5th in Russia in terms of the volume of loans issued to SMEs and 11th in mortgage lending, participates in all government support projects, increases the ESG rating base for small businesses, keeps track of environmental impact reduction, and successfully implements social policy and corporate culture.

In the first quarter of 2024, the bank was rated ACRA ESG-AA level ESG-2. This is the highest rating of ACRA among rated banks, indicating the successful implementation of the sustainable development strategy.

Through accessible and transparent lending conditions, fair deposit conditions, a client-centric approach and the implementation of social projects, the bank solves global problems of competitiveness of its clients and the region in order to ensure the sovereignty of the entire country. As of 1 July 2024, Center-invest Bank’s investments in achieving Sustainable Development Goals amounted to 566.3 bn roubles, the bank invested 503.2 bn roubles in national projects.