Bringing you and our
planet closer to make
sure our actions today build
a better tomorrow.

Sustainability Framework

The National Bank of Bahrain’s sustainability framework comprises of different pillars that guide everything from how we train our staff and support our community to how we look after the environment and make sure we’re doing business in a fair and safe way.

 

Sustainable Finance Framework: Click Here

Economic Growth

Leveraging strengths for the economy’s foundation.

Objectives

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Capture net impact on society and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2023.

Attain advantage as the preferred impact maximising banking partner.

Drive growth through increased financing in high-impact sectors

Achieve solid financial performance consistently over the years.

Customer Centricity

Fostering relationships with digital transformation.

Objectives

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Offer the best sustainability-oriented products and services.

Emphasise sustainability in customer messaging.

Uphold transparency and fairness in all customer relations

Ensure availability of communications and services on digital platforms.

Safeguard customer data and privacy.

Responsible Banking

Discipline through a responsible operations.

Objectives

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Enhance ESG criteria in lending and investment activities.

Offer sustainability-oriented products and services towards our stakeholders.

Promote financial literacy and responsible lending.

Expand SME clientele in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.

Nurturing Workforce

Development of knowledge, skills, and mindset.

Objectives

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Integrate sustainability-related values into policies, procedures, and training.

Empower Bahraini and female team members in the bank.

Abide by principles of fair treatment and equality of all.

Link rewards and promotions to sustainability performance.

Contribute to the well-being of employees and team members.

Community Investment

Giving back to the community through contributions.

Objectives

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Effectively enhance community investments using our full resources.

Preserving Natural Resources

Consideration of the environmental footprint.

Objectives

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Significantly improve environmental performance, including climate change.

Minimise our direct impact on the local and global environment.

Governance & Ethical Behaviour

Adherence to ethical corporate principles.

Objectives

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Achieve leading practice in good governance and integrity.

Embed sustainability directly into our core, reinforced by governance.

Sustainability Roadmap

We’ve got a plan that covers everything from growing the economy and being a responsible bank to looking after our staff and helping out in the community.

 

 

In 1980, we established the Donations and Contributions Fund, allocating 5% of our annual net income for charitable purposes – a tradition proudly upheld to this day.

We strive to lead on sustainability within Bahrain and the regional banking sector. Phase one of our three-year sustainability roadmap concluded in 2023, successfully achieving the strategic objectives revolved around capacity building, assignment of responsibilities, alignment with international best practices, and integration of key ESG considerations.

 

Sustainability Reports: Click Here

We are now embarking on the second phase, with another three-year roadmap that encompasses building on existing initiatives and focusing on a number of strategic objectives with the vision of becoming the national partner of choice for various stakeholders in the upcoming sustainability journey.

Sustainability Rankings and Positioning

We’ve got a plan that covers everything from growing the economy and being a responsible bank to looking after our staff and helping out in the community.

A key player in Bahrain’s economic development, providing seamless financial services to individuals and businesses, fostering growth, and contributing to the national economy.

ESG Invest
The National Bank of Bahrain B.S.C. (NBB) has recently been ranked first in the Banking Sector in Bahrain for Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) ratings list by ESG Invest. ESG Invest evaluates and scores the ESG performance of more than 700 companies in the Middle East across nine regional markets across 43 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria spanning 140 quantitative and qualitative KPIs.

Revinitiv

The National Bank of Bahrain B.S.C. (NBB) gets scored and ranked between banking services and companies issued by Refinitiv ESG Company Scores. NBB’s score indicates good relative ESG performance and above average degree of transparency in reporting material ESG date publically, as per Refinitiv scoring range. The Refinitiv ESG score measures Company’s ESG performance based on verifiable reported data in the public domain. It captures and calculates over 450 company-level ESG measures, of which a subset of 186 of the most comparable and material per industry power the overall company assessment and scoring process.

Refinitiv Arab Federation pf Exchanges Low Carbon Select Index

The National Bank of Bahrain B.S.C. (NBB) is currently the only constituent representing the Kingdom of Bahrain on the Refinitiv Arab Federation of Exchanges (“AFE”) Low Carbon Select Index. Refinitiv AFE Low Carbon Select Index offers an innovative benchmark for investors wishing to commit capital to companies that actively invest in and promote low carbon activities in the running of their businesses.

Sustainability Awards & Recognition

Here’s where we celebrate the accolades that highlight our sustainable excellence. Each award underscores our commitment to set sustainability benchmarks in the industry.

Middle East’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility

Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence

Best Bank for ESG in Bahrain

Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence

Best Bank for CSR in Bahrain

Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence

Best ESG Integration in Bahrain

Arab Federation of Capital Markets Awards

1st in Bahrain, 2nd in the Arab World

Refinitive ESG Scoring for Banking Services Companies

Sustainability Alignment

As part of our commitment to contributing to national and international sustainability goals, we actively integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our business model.

Alignment with global sustainability standards.

Global

We integrate SDG, GRI and SASB standards into our business model.

Supporting many standards, notably focusing on decent work and economic growth.

Sustainability and fairness drive our commitment to global goals.

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Alignment with national sustainability standards.

National

#TeamBahrain, aligning with the Central Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain Bourse under Bahrain Vision 2030.

Community focused through initiatives, contributions and employee volunteering.

Regular donation of 5% of net profits to local communities.

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Stakeholders

We’ve got a plan that covers everything from growing the economy and being a responsible
bank to looking after our staff and helping out in the community. To create sustainable long-term value for all stakeholders and our business, we regularly engage with each stakeholder group to understand their needs and issues they consider material.

Stakeholder Relationship
Employees Our employees are vital to our business, playing a crucial role in its operations and growth.
Customers Customers depend on us for essential wealth and business services.
Investors Our growth relies on attracting investors who depend on us to maximise their returns.
Suppliers We boost the national economy by prioritising local suppliers and promoting their transition to sustainability.
Regulators We depend on government and regulators to provide the governance and oversight.
Community We look beyond our own operations to create value for the whole of society, including families and the most vulnerable groups.

Policy Statements

Our values are really important to us. They guide everything from how we train our staff and support our community to how we look after the environment.

Employee Training & Development

We recognise the importance of having a skilled workforce to achieve our strategic and operational goals. We are committed to providing an environment that promotes effective performance and fosters continuous training and development opportunities for all employees.

Our primary goal is to ensure that our workforce possesses the necessary competencies to meet our high standards of performance and quality. Line Managers are tasked with identifying and proposing learning objectives and development plans for their team members. This includes facilitating training courses and external learning opportunities to enhance their skills and competencies.

 

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Equal Opportunity

We uphold equality and fairness in our recruitment policy. We ensure that the criteria for our selection process are unbiased and do not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, marital status, or any other factors outside the scope of our business and operational needs or legal requirements.

We fully support the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities, as required by law. We are committed to not discriminating against any individual who is capable of competently performing their job responsibilities.

 

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Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental pillars of our Human Resources and Talent Management Policy. We embrace and celebrate differences in gender, age, religion, disabilities, personality, ethnicity, skill set, experience, knowledge base, and background.

Through our Donations and Contributions policy, we support initiatives that enhance societal acceptance of diversity, fostering an inclusive environment within our community and workplace.

 

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Community Initiatives & Promotion of Social & Economic Development

Our dedication to social responsibility is exemplified by our established Donations Policy, which encompasses education, healthcare, and social welfare.

We are steadfast in our commitment to allocate 5% of our annual net profits to support a variety of programs and initiatives within our seven Donations and Contributions pillars. This ongoing commitment underscores our role in fostering social and economic development in the communities we serve.

 

Policy Statements ↓

Nationalisation

Aligned with Bahrain’s Vision 2030, the National Bank of Bahrain prioritises employment opportunities for Valid Residency Permit candidates. Our recruitment efforts focus on providing suitable positions to local talent, ensuring that our business and operational needs are met while contributing to the reduction of the country’s unemployment rate.

 

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Group Health & Safety Policy Disclosure

We are dedicated to the health, safety, and wellbeing of our employees, customers, visitors, contractors, and tenants. We aim to provide a safe and secure working environment by integrating health and safety practices into our daily operations and ensuring alignment with the Group’s Code of Conduct.

Our Group Health & Safety policy is implemented in accordance with local laws and regulations, and it recognises international best practices and guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This policy sets the standards for controlling health and safety risks within acceptable limits across our workplace. We have also established a Health & Safety framework that addresses risk assessments and mitigation strategies to prevent accidents and protect our staff and assets.

 

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Group Treasury & Investment Policy Disclosure

We recognise the pivotal role that treasury and capital markets play in today’s financial system. We understand the necessity of regulatory compliance and robust risk controls that must accompany these activities. The Treasury and Capital Markets Policy outlines our integrated approach to enterprise-wide trading, investment, compliance, and risk management, which the Group Treasury and Capital Markets Unit must adhere to.

This policy also emphasises essential aspects of corporate governance, corporate behaviour, and ESG-compliant investment considerations. The National Bank of Bahrain is committed to serving its community, clientele, and shareholders by ensuring that all activities conducted by the Treasury and Capital Markets Unit follow best market practices.

 

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Environmental Policy Disclosure

As a leading financial institution, we are committed to managing its environmental impact, risks, and opportunities to protect the environment in which we operate. To ensure this commitment, we are implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with the ISO14001:2015 International Standard.

Our Environmental Policy establishes the foundation for our Environmental Management framework, governing key environmental activities relevant to the Bank. This policy aims to enhance the National Bank of Bahrain’s environmental performance, demonstrate our commitment to environmental protection, and reduce our ecological footprint.

 

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Human Rights Policy

We are committed to fully respecting human rights and complying with all national and international laws, bills, and treaties. Our Human Rights policy fosters a supportive organisational culture that values employees’ free will and promotes open and honest communication.

Our commitment extends beyond maintaining a healthy work environment to ensuring it is free from violence and any unsafe acts that could jeopardise our employees’ safety and well-being. We aim to continuously develop our organisational culture to respect and protect human rights in all aspects of our operations.

 

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Global Credit Policy Statement

We are dedicated to making a positive contribution to both internal and external stakeholders. Since 2020, our Credit Risk Management has integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within our Global Credit Policy to promote sustainability in our credit activities.

Our ambition is to be recognised as a regional leader in responsible lending and sustainable finance, reflecting our commitment to positively impact the clients and communities we serve. ESG risk factors are thoroughly assessed across all our financing activities with clients, ensuring that sustainability considerations are deeply embedded within our credit risk management framework.

 

Policy Statements ↓

Youth Employment Support Policy Statement

We are committed to developing, training, and providing employment opportunities for the youth, in alignment with local and international labour standards. Our policy focuses on building practical skills that enhance job opportunities for young individuals.

Each year, the National Bank of Bahrain pledges to accommodate 40 graduates in our comprehensive internship programme. This rigorous programme combines on-the-job training with formal educational and behavioral courses, equipping participants with the necessary skills and experience to advance their careers.

 

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Supplier Code of Conduct

At National Bank of Bahrain. We continuously drive sustainability in products and solutions, combining economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection in our business operations and thereby enable our customers to meet current and future needs of society.

Ensuring the principles of sustainable development in our supply chain is important to us. We want to partner with our suppliers to further develop their sustainability performance in our supply chain. We expect our suppliers to fully comply with applicable laws and to adhere to internationally recognised suppliers to use their best efforts to implement these standards with their suppliers and subcontractors.

 

Policy Statements ↓

Corporate Social Responsibility

The bank’s key initiatives and events for societal betterment.

Committed to progress and enhancing the well-being of our communities.
Active contributor to the education sector, healthcare, social welfare, and sustainability.
Creating a positive impact beyond banking towards the prosperity of Bahrain.

Belief in Community Development

Since NBB opened its doors in January 1957 we have remained at the heart of the community and taken the community to heart. Several decades on, our commitment to supporting our country’s social welfare and contributing to the betterment of people’s lives continues undiminished. It is both our duty and our privilege to be serving the community beyond banking.

Belief in Sustainability

NBB has consistently strived to develop a culture which underlines the fact that our success is wholly dependent on the customers and the community in which it operates. Over the years, society has demanded that businesses work in a more sustainable manner. At NBB, this has been ingrained into the psyche of our employees.

Our Commitments: Inclusion of the Community, Aid to the less privileged sections
Our Engagements: Volunteer work, Financial assistance

Belief in Social Investment

NBB’s Donations and Contributions Program was formally established in 1980 in line with our belief that the community should also benefit from our success. The primary aim has been to ensure that the less privileged among us are brought to the forefront and have the opportunity to enjoy a more stable future. We commit 5% of our net annual profit for allocation among various programs and foundations/projects that contribute to social welfare.

Our Commitments: Social welfare, Health care, Education, and Research studies
Our Engagements: On-the-job summer training is provided by NBB to Bahraini students from the University of Bahrain, BD1.5 million was contributed in 2016 by our Donations and Contributions Program to social welfare activities, BD 42.48 million contributed to social welfare by NBB through the agency of our Donations and Contributions Program since its inception.

Belief in Knowledge Sharing

We take great pride in our employees who make significant contributions as volunteers sharing their skills, knowledge and experience with all sections of the community.

Our commitment is to explore opportunities whereby the under-privileged are given access to a more secure future.
Our Engagements: Forums, Discussions, Seminars