Commerzbank AG

How can a bank shape the future? This is the key question addressed in the latest edition of Commerz­bank’s Corporate Responsibility Magazine. For the Bank itself, this implies reconciling profitable growth with sustainable development.

One important parameter is climate protection in the Bank’s core business: with a loan portfolio of €5 billion, Commerzbank is one of the largest financers of renewable forms of energy in Germany. In August 2016, the Board of Managing Directors adopted a coal guideline stating that the Bank shall have no involvement whatsoever in the financing of new coal-fired power stations and coal mines.

Another topic covered is the need to take responsibility in an increasingly globalised world. Commerzbank, with around a 30 per cent share of foreign trade financing, ranks as one of the top export banks in Germany. Ecological and social criteria are always a factor when deciding whether or not to give a transaction the green light.

Since it plays an active role in society, Commerzbank believes it has a responsibility to help shape the future. Social solidarity is a key part of this. For example, some of the Bank’s employees are involved, on a voluntary basis, in helping young people who have had a difficult start in life to make a successful transition into the world of work. 

The magazine also takes a brief look at Commerzbank’s new sustainability programme. The 100 targets it sets will help ensure that sustainability considerations are more firmly embedded in employees’ day-to-day work. Whether it is a matter of focussing on energy efficiency in customer advisory work or using environ­mentally friendly coffee cups, every gesture helps Commerzbank on its path to greater sustainability. The full programme can be found atsustainability.commerzbank.com/programme.

The Corporate Responsibility Magazine is available online at sustainability.commerzbank.com/magazine. Print copies can also be ordered there.

Sustainability made transparent

Commerzbank’s sustainability report – the GRI report – is based on the globally recognised standards set out in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). These ensure that the sustainability of the activities of companies can be compared on an international level. The latest GRI report also serves as a communication on Commerzbank’s progress in relation to the United Nations Global Compact in the financial year 2016. Detailed information is available online at http://www.sustainability.commerzbank.com/gri_reportsustainability.commerzbank.com/gri_report.

 

 

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Press contact
Beate Schlosser                                   +49 69 136-22137

 

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About Commerzbank
Commerzbank is a leading international commercial bank with branches and offices in almost 50 coun­tries. In the two business segments Private and Small Business Customers, as well as Corporate Clients, the Bank offers a comprehensive portfolio of financial services which is precisely aligned to the clients’ needs. Commerzbank finances approximately 30% of Germany’s foreign trade and is leading in financing for corporate clients in Germany. Due to its in-depth sector know-how in the German econo­my, the Bank is a leading provider of capital market products. Its subsidiaries Comdirect in Germany and mBank in Poland are two of the world’s most innovative online banks. With approximately 1,000 branches, Commerzbank has one of the densest branch networks among German private banks. In total, Commerzbank serves more than 17.5 million private and small business customers, as well as more than 60,000 corporate clients, multinationals, financial service providers, and institutional clients. The Bank, which was founded in 1870, is represented at all the world’s major stock exchanges. In 2016, it generated gross revenues of €9.4 billion with approximately 49,900 employees.

 

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Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. In this release, these statements concern inter alia the expected future business of Commerzbank, efficiency gains and expected synergies, expected growth prospects and other oppor­tunities for an increase in value of Commerzbank as well as expected future financial results, restruc­turing costs and other financial developments and information. These forward-looking statements are based on the management’s current plans, expectations, estimates and projections. They are subject to a number of assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from any future results and developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the conditions in the financial markets in Germany, in Europe, in the USA and other regions from which Commerzbank derives a substantial portion of its revenues and in which Commerzbank holds a substantial portion of its assets, the development of asset prices and market volatility, especially due to the ongoing European debt crisis, potential defaults of borrowers or trading counterparties, the implementation of its strategic initiatives to improve its business model, the reliability of its risk management policies, procedures and methods, risks arising as a result of regulatory change and other risks. Forward-looking statements therefore speak only as of the date they are made. Commerzbank has no obligation to update or release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

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