Responsible investment leadership

For the fourth year in a row¹ we were the only bank recognised as a Responsible Investment Leader by Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA). 

A Responsible Investment Leader² as per the current definition by RIAA, is a company who has an exceptional ability to deliver on its responsible investment promises. 

Certified responsible investment products 

Our home loans, deposit accounts, and wholesale funds are certified as Responsible Investment products by RIAA, at no additional cost to our members³. 

RIAA states that products which have the RIAA Certification symbol have been assessed as credible responsible investments. They systematically account for environmental, social and governance factors along with demonstrating a rigorous, transparent approach and organisational commitment to responsible investing⁴.

ESG Policy 

We do not directly lend to corporations that operate in specific sectors such as tobacco, gambling, pornography, and fossil fuels. Our Treasury Credit Risk and Lending Policy is the policy framework for managing our credit exposure arising from financial markets exposures. This states that ‘As part of the policy, various lending and investment opportunities are disqualified from the bank’s lending origination business for ESG (Environment Social and Governance) exclusion criteria’. 

Under the exclusion criteria, we do not directly lend to, or directly buy equity or debt to corporations that operate in specific industries including the following: 

• Organisations that grow, produce, retail, and sell tobacco related products or services including packaging and the manufacture of nicotine alternatives. 
• Organisations that operate or own gambling products or services 
• Organisations that produce, own, operate, or distribute pornography. 
• Organisations that explore, extract, export coal, oil and gas, and/or combust these for power generation, and/or are major suppliers to these industries.

We do not directly invest in the fossil fuel industry 

Our Treasury Credit Risk and Lending Risk Policy explicitly prohibits our bank from directly lending to, investing in, or buying equity or debt in corporations that operate the fossil fuel industry, which is defined as ‘coal, oil and gas - exploration for and extraction of reserves, exports, combustion for power generation, and major suppliers to the oil, coal and gas industries’. 

Read the Banking for Good report

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1. 2021-2024

2. responsibleinvestment.org/responsible-investment-leaders

3. Product Certification - Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) Wholesale DIP, Short Term Deposits and the Retail mortgages and deposits have been certified by RIAA according to the strict operational and disclosure practices required under the Responsible Investment Certification Program. See responsibleinvestment.org for details. The Responsible Investment Certification Program does not constitute financial product advice. Neither the Certificate Symbol nor RIAA recommends to any person that any financial product is a suitable investment or that returns are guaranteed. Appropriate professional advice should be sought prior to making an investment decision. RIAA does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence. 

4. responsibleinvestment.org/ri-certification/product-certification