2024
We became the only Tier-I bank in Türkiye to be included in Sustainalytics' Top-Rated Companies 2024 List with our "Strong" performance in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk management.
We maintained our position in the "Leader" class by receiving an AA in MSCI ESG rating.
We received an "A" score in both the 2023 CDP Climate Change and Water Security Programs. Thus, we became the first and only financial institution in Türkiye to be included in the Global A-List.
We were selected as one of "The Sustainability Yearbook" companies for the third time in a row in S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment.
Our Banking Base building has been awarded with the LEED Platinum Certificate, one of the world's most prestigious green building certifications.
We extended ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certificate and ISO 14046 Water Footprint Certificate to all our locations including all head office buildings.
We updated our Sustainable Finance Framework by adding new green and social financing themes.
We became the only private Tier-I Bank in Turkey to receive SBTi verification. We received verification for the entire mandatory target portfolio with our operational and financed emission targets.
We signed our first Sustainable Syndicated Loan.
2023
We implemented the Sustainable Preferences Program (Step) to encourage our customers to make sustainable choices for our shared future and to establish a culture of sustainability by saying "One choice changes a lot".
We became the only financial institution from Türkiye to sign the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation by committing to calculate our impacts on biodiversity, set our targets and report transparently.
In line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, we assumed a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis and joined the Net Zero Banking Alliance, the first and only net zero initiative for worldwide banks.
We started working on developing a decarbonization strategy for our loan portfolio and took steps to reshape loan policies within the framework of this strategy.
We completed our first sustainable Eurobond issuance of USD 500 million, with an additional USD 300 million.
We received the Green Office Diploma from WWF Turkey.
Within the scope of S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment, we performed above the industry average in 2023 and were entitled to be among the companies in "The Sustainability Yearbook".
We were listed in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index 2023.
We launched the "Equal Opportunity in Technology" project in partnership with the International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL Istanbul) of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Bahçeşehir University (BAU). We set out with the goal of reaching 80,000 women in 3 years with the training that will be provided free of charge to all women between the ages of 18-27 and young people living in the earthquake zone, regardless of gender.
In the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we launched "A Snowball for the Future" training program for better-educated generations that will be the future of our country. The project’s objective is to raise stronger generations for the second century of our Republic by providing children between the ages 0-6, who are at a stage of mental development, with the right tools and educational support, as well as supporting their parents in this regard.
2022
We were listed among the companies in "The Sustainability Yearbook 2022" issued under the scope of S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment, evaluating over 7,000 companies worldwide.
We upgraded our rating by three levels from BB to AA in the MSCI ESG Ratings, which measure companies’ resilience to long-term environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks. As the only bank in Türkiye to receive an AA rating, we were included in the "Leader" class.
We were evaluated on 5 different gender equality criteria and performed above the sectoral, international and country-wide standards, thus entering the 2022 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index (GEI).
2021
We joined the Science Based Targets Initiative to become the first Turkish company to commit to reducing its emissions in line with the requirements of "Business Ambition for 1.5°C".
In line with our updated policies on financial support for green projects and investments, we declared that we will no longer finance coal-fired power plants and new coal mining projects.
We became one of the supporters of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
We became one of the five companies from Türkiye to be included in the 2021 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index (GEI).
We were granted Zero Waste Certificate for our Head Office building, following the one for our Banking Base.
We published the 2021 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Climate Change and Water Security Program reports.
We launched an electric/hybrid vehicle loan program.
2020
We published our first Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Integrated Report.
We were granted Zero Waste Certificate for our Banking Base with the Zero Waste Project.
We were ranked among the Leaders of Türkiye in the CDP Water Security Program with the highest rating (A- (Leadership)) in the Turkish financial sector for the second time.
In order to increase demand for energy-efficient housing in our country, we launched an eco-friendly mortgage product.
Under the leadership of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Türkiye (KAGİDER), we received the Equal Opportunity Certificate (EOC) developed with the technical support of the World Bank.
We expanded our sustainable and innovative product portfolio and issued our first green bond.
We expanded the scope of ISO 14064-1 certificate to cover all our premises and subsidiaries, including the branches.
We received the ISO 14046 Direct Water Footprint Certificate for our Head Office and service buildings, becoming the first financial institution to comply with this standard in Türkiye.
2019
We became one the founding signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) of the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
As a result of our efforts to further integrate Equator Principles into our system; we revised our assessment criteria from “at least 3-year maturity and a loan amount above USD 20 million” to “all investment loans above USD 10 million” as of 2019.
We were ranked among the Leaders of Türkiye in the CDP Water Security Program, with the highest rating (A- (Leadership)) in the Turkish financial sector.
We included projects worth over USD 10 million with financial consultancy services in our "Assessment of Environmental and Social Risks in Lending Activities" procedure.
2018
We published our first report under the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – Water Security Program.
We participated in the Business World Against Domestic Violence Project and implemented the "Business Against Domestic Violence Policy.”
2017
We became a founding signatory of the Global Compact Türkiye Declaration on Sustainable Finance, which represents a sectoral collaboration as part of the activities of the Global Company Türkiye Sustainable Finance Working Group.
We were included in the "FTSE4Good Emerging Index" of the global index provider FTSE Russel, a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group, which measures companies’ ESG performances.
2016
We joined the WEPs platform, established in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact and UN Women.
We published our first report under the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – Climate Change Program.
We joined the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative by signing the Statement on Environment and Sustainable Development to reinforce our commitment to sustainable development.
We established the Environmental Management System (EMS) by receiving ISO 14001 certification for our head office buildings, the Yapı Kredi Plaza D Block and the Yapı Kredi Banking Base to systematically manage our environmental impact.
2015
We published our first Sustainability Report in compliance with the GRI G4 standards.
An independent audit was performed for the first time on selected indicators of the Sustainability Report (energy, emission, finance, occupational health and safety, employee training, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, human rights).
2014
We were included in the Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index (BIST).
We established the Sustainability Committee in charge of integrating sustainability practices into our business processes and monitoring our sustainability performance.