Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Responsible Banking
• Environmental Impact Management
• Responsible Investment
• Social Development
• Corporate Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Significant reduction in paper consumption due to technological transformation (Paperless Bank program)
• Launched a green pilot lending program providing financing for environmental projects
• Continued involvement in the conservation of big cats (snow leopard, Amur tiger, Amur and Persian leopards)

Social Achievements

• Provided concessional loans to companies in the systemic sector and businesses in most affected industries, helping maintain employment
• Provided repayment holidays for 400,000 retail customers totaling over RUB 300 billion
• Expanded programs improving housing affordability, increasing mortgage portfolio by 18% to RUB 2 trillion
• Launched its own mortgage program to support families with children
• Implemented 15 thematic educational projects on financial literacy
• Provided RUB 326 million in aid to medical institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Launched a large-scale Career Routes program focused on regional network employee growth and promotion

Governance Achievements

• Improved corporate governance system, raising the National Corporate Governance Rating to Level 8
• Established the Shareholders’ Consultative Council to engage with minority shareholders
• Developed a new ESG strategy (to be adopted mid-2021) integrating ESG factors into decision-making processes
• Received the highest Anti-Corruption Rating for Russian Business

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Worsening economic situation due to volatile oil prices and exchange rates
• Sharp increase in cost of risk, forcing a 2.4 times increase in reserves
• COVID-19 pandemic impacting operations and customer needs

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented necessary security measures in branches and offices, organized remote customer service
• Actively participated in government measures to help clients facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic
• Developed its own programs to support retail and SME customers
• Radically restructured operations to reconfigure key processes without losing efficiency
• Transferred 80% of customer transactions to paperless banking in 2021
• Developed new digital solutions for SMEs, increasing customer base by 25%

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Transparent and efficient procurement infrastructure
• Expanding opportunities for SMEs to participate in procurement
• 40% of purchases from SMEs (vs. statutory standard of 20%)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Floods, earthquakes, increase in average temperature

Transition Risks

• Political, legal and technological changes in connection with the transition to a low-carbon economy

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core Option

Third-party Assurance: Ernst & Young LLC

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 4: Quality Education
• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• Goal 15: Life on Land

VTB's strategy and responsible banking practices are integrated into the context of achieving the UN SDGs.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• EcoCard (made of polylactide)
• Digital cards

Awards & Recognition

• Bank of the Year 2020 (The Banker)