Transparency | banking made for cee

In any given democracy, public debate is crucial in forming political opinions which then influence how governments define their positions in relevant policy areas. These positions finally translate into regulation that effects all of us.

Evidently, there are a significant number of stakeholders that participate in public debate, most notably political parties, trade unions, NGOs, grass root initiatives or scientists all together representing a wide range of ideas, beliefs, and causes.

Whereas in the past, corporate businesses have been reluctant to contribute to and engage in public debate, a significant number of businesses have come to understand and appreciate their role in society more and more as a corporate citizen. As a result, they feel encouraged to be increasingly vocal about questions that are relevant to them as much as to society at large.

We are happy to bring our ideas and beliefs to the table and discuss the impact of our business on society. Here we can show, how our banking contributes to wealth, prosperity, and sustainability in the countries we work in. Just as much, we are strongly interested in challenging ideas we feel may have adverse or negative effects on social, economic, and environmental issues that are of concern to us.

Traditional lobbying is only one aspect of how we go about to by explaining our positions to interest groups, regulatory authorities, politicians or other stakeholders. Our overall approach is more of what we call corporate advocacy. And this is not only about what we expect others to do for us. Being open for dialogue is just as much about learning from people with others perceptions and beliefs.

Transparency register numbers of Raiffeisen Bank International:

• Europe EU Transparency register: 33858106461-10;
• Austria Lobbying- und Interessenvertretungsregister: LIVR-00104.

Code of Conduct

The RBI Group Code of Conduct is the foundation of our corporate culture. This Code of Conduct is internally binding for the RBI Group, but does not create any rights or obligations of third parties vis-à-vis members of the RBI Group. Persons who provide services to or otherwise work for the RBI Group and all other business partners of the RBI Group are expected to agree to the RBI Group Supplier Code of Conduct as a mandatory part of the contract and to comply with all rules and standards contained therein.

read more: RBI Code of Conduct (rbinternational.com)

We are one of the signatory companies of the UN Global Compact (UNGC). The UNGC is the world's largest initiative that helps companies align their practices with a sustainable and inclusive future.

The UNGC initiative is based on CEOs' commitments to adhere to universal sustainability principles and offers a principles-based framework and network.

Over the course of two decades, the UN Global Compact has mobilized companies around the world to align their activities and strategies with ten principles and enabled change by reporting on their progress in adhering to these principles. The UN Global Compact has evolved from a group of 44 companies to what is now the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative and a global movement of more than 12,000 companies and 3,000 non-corporate stakeholders in 160 countries.

The new Strategy 2021-2023 reinforces the expectations of companies when integrating the ten principles into their operations.

Our Contribution

As a signatory company, RBI is not only committed to consistently adhering to the ten UNGC principles of responsible business – with the core areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and the fight against corruption – but also expects the associated attitude of global responsibility from all employees and managers as well as from partners and suppliers.

read more: UN Global Compact (rbinternational.com)

RBI – as part of the Austrian Raiffeisen Banking Group – is an important participant on the European banking market, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In recent years, the banking sector has undergone numerous changes. In environmental conditions, such as regulatory measures to safeguard financial market stability in Austria but also in CEE, a longer-term low interest rate environment and adjustments due to the progressive digitalization (e. g. further development of internet banking services) and changes in the banking sector. For this reason, the objective is to determine the employment and economic contributions of RBI for all CEE countries (including Austria) in which it operates.

read more: Ökonomischer Fußabdruck der RBI veröffentlicht (rbinternational.com)