Over 350 banks – representing more than 85 countries and approximately half of the global banking sector by value (~99 trillion USD) – have chosen to implement the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB). Through the PRB, signatories address sustainability risks, impacts and opportunities; advance the bank-client relationship; drive sustainable, resilient business development; and engage key actors for systemic change.
In moving from ambition to action, this UN Responsible Banking Community — comprising PRB signatories, more than 100 partners and endorsers, as well as key stakeholders including civil society, investors, central banks, regulators and policymakers — is pioneering global market practice and transforming the nature of sustainability leadership.
Demonstrating strong alignment between their business strategy with their sustainability ambition, nearly all PRB banks have sustainability oversight at board or CEO level, with 52% linking remuneration to sustainability metrics. Further highlighting this progress, new research from MSCI* shows:
- 66% of PRB banks are rated sustainability leaders vs. 28% of non-PRB banks.*
- Almost 90% of PRB banks offer sustainability-related financial products vs. 46% of non-PRB banks*
- PRB banks are 5x more likely to adopt specific environmental credit-risk policies than non-PRB banks*
* Disclaimer: This content has benefited from and been informed by external analysis undertaken by the MSCI Institute using data from MSCI Solutions LLC. Such analysis is carried out using each provider’s own data, terms, methodologies and assumptions, for which we cannot take credit or liability. External analysis is shared in varying forms and occasionally on a limited basis.
As we celebrate #7YearsofthePRB, we shine a spotlight on how signatory banks are putting the Principles into practice, the impact they are having in strengthening the resilience of the banking sector, as well as how their efforts are enabling and accelerating real economy transition.
We particularly encourage you to explore several new resources which look through the lens of the PRB’s Responsible Banking Journey to highlight how the Principles have created a community of sustainability leaders capable of achieving far more together than any single bank could:
- A Chief Risk Officer’s Guide to the Principles for Responsible Banking
- Inaugural Strategic Dialogue with central banks on emerging sustainability risks
- Circular Solutions to Achieve Nature Targets
- Five Years of Advancing Financial Health and Inclusion in Banking
- Building a Green Banking Ecosystem in China | Asia Pacific Case Studies
Join us in celebrating #7YearsofthePRB – seven years of achieving more, together.
Explore how the UN Responsible Banking Community is accelerating sector change in our feature “Seven Years of the Principles for Responsible Banking” here.
