Memberships and commitments
A dialogue means sharing experiences, developing joint strategies, and finding solutions: with these objectives in mind, BayernLB plays an active role in regional, national and international federations and associations concerned with banking, economics and sustainability-related issues. We have listed some of them here in alphabetical order.
Energy efficiency task force
The energy efficiency task force is a working group of the Energy Efficiency, Energy Sales & Energy Trading Division. It deals with the central issues involved in developing the topic of energy efficiency and energy services in municipal energy supply companies.
Bundesverband Öffentlicher Banken Deutschlands (Association of German Public Sector Banks – VÖB)
The Association of German Public-Sector Banks, VÖB, is an umbrella organisation of the German banking industry. It represents the interests of 59 members, including the Landesbanks and the development banks of the federal and state governments.
The member institutions of the VÖB have total assets of around EUR 3,143 billion and thus represent about one third of the German banking market. The public-sector banks take responsibility for small and medium-sized enterprises, companies, the public sector and private customers and are firmly rooted in their home regions in all parts of Germany.
Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband (German Savings Banks Association – DSGV)
The German Savings Bank Association (DSGV) is the umbrella association of the Savings Banks Finance Group. The DSGV represents the interests of the 372 savings banks, the Landesbank groups and DekaBank, as well as eight Landesbausparkassen, nine primary insurer groups of the savings banks and numerous other financial services companies.
European Association of Public Banks (EAPB)
The European Association of Public Banks (EAPB) is the voice of the European public banking sector. The EAPB directly and indirectly represents over 90 financial institutions with total assets of over EUR 3,500 billion and a 15 percent market share of the European financial sector. EAPB members are national and regional development banks, municipal financing institutions and public-sector commercial banks throughout Europe. EAPB members provide financial services and financing for projects that support sustainable economic and social development. Activities range from financing businesses and promoting a greener economy to funding social housing, healthcare, education and public infrastructure at national, regional and local levels.
Familienpakt Bayern (Bavarian Family Pact)
In order to further improve the compatibility of family and career in Bavaria and to provide impetus in the corporate world and society, the Bavarian State Gov-ernment and Bavarian industry have joined forces in a powerful partnership.
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
BayernLB aims to have a climate-neutral portfolio before 2050. To this end, the Bank has joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF). The PCAF brings a standardised methodology to the table, which BayernLB and DKB will use to calculate the emissions in their lending portfolios in future. Measuring greenhouse gas emissions is essential for managing the risk and sustainability aspects of the portfolio and gradually decarbonising it.
Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)
In September 2021, BayernLB joined the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), a voluntary initiative created in 2019 by member banks of the UNEP FI. With this move, we clearly demonstrate our high commitment to enshrining sus-tainability aspects in our business strategy.
Umwelt + Klimapakt Bayern (Bavarian Environmental Pact)
The Bavarian Environmental Pact was first agreed in 1995 with the idea of motivating companies, entrepreneurs and state institutions to implement operational environmental protection above and beyond the legal requirements.
With the current environmental and climate pact, the Bavarian State Government and its partners, the Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e.V. (Association of Bavarian Industry – vbw), the Bayerische Industrie- und Handelskammertag (Association of Bavarian Chambers of Industry and Commerce – BIHK) and the Bayerische Handwerkstag (Bavarian Trades Council – BHT) are working to develop solutions for dealing with prominent environmental and sustainability issues, in order to promote environmental and climate protection in companies and businesses.
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector to mobilise private sector finance for sustainable development.
UN Global Compact (UNGC)
BayernLB and its Group subsidiaries Deutsche Kreditbank AG, BayernInvest Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH and Real I.S. AG have been signatories to the UN Global Compact, the world's largest and most important initiative for sustainable and responsible corporate governance, since September 2021. By signing the declaration, the BayernLB Group commits to respecting and promoting basic human rights, ensuring fair working conditions, fighting corruption and promoting sustainable development.
Verband deutscher Pfandbriefbanken (Association of German Pfandbrief Banks – vdp)
The Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp) is one of the five central associations of the German Banking Industry. It represents the most important capital providers for residential and commercial construction as well as the state and its institutions.
Verein für Umweltmanagement und Nachhaltigkeit in Finanzinstituten e.V. (German Association of Environmental Management and Sustainability in Financial Institutions – VfU)
The VfU is a network of sustainable finance professionals from currently 49 financial companies (banks, insurance companies, investment companies and related associations) founded in 1995. The VfU offers financial service providers a platform on which they can acquire, share, generate and deepen sustainable finance knowledge and expertise in various formats.
External standards for BayernLB's business activities
By recognising external national and international standards and undertaking voluntary commitments, BayernLB seeks to achieve two things:
Firstly, with its signature and cooperation, BayernLB is supporting the objectives underpinning the relevant standards and initiatives.
Secondly, cooperation in these initiatives provides the opportunity to share and compare experiences, thus providing essential impetus to refine measures within BayernLB.
BayernLB meets external standards for business activities. They are listed here in alphabetical order.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| CDP | CDP is a non-profit organisation that operates the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. |
| Charta der Vielfalt (Diversity Charter) | The Diversity Charter is an employer initiative to promote diversity in companies and institutions. The aim of the initiative is to promote the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the world of work in Germany. |
| EMAS and ISO 14001 | The European environmental management system EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) enables companies to save resources intelligently. EMAS-registered organisations make an effective contribution to environmental protection, save costs and demonstrate social responsibility. ISO 14001 is the globally accepted and applied standard for environmental management systems. |
| Faire Ausbildung (Fair Training) | Label for certified quality of apprenticeships and integrated degree courses (Trendence) |
| Fair Company initiative | Label for verifiable rules and quality standards in intern-ships (karriere.de) |
| Faires Traineeprogramm (Fair Trainee Programme) | Label for fair trainee programmes that advance the participants’ career (Trendence) |
| Familienpakt Bayern (Bavarian Family Pact) | Better compatibility of family and career in Bavaria |
| Green / Social Bond Principles | Voluntary guidelines that recommend transparency, disclosure and reporting and thus encourage integrity on the market for green and social bonds |
| LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) | BayernLB has been a member of the LBMA since 2002 and complies with its standards throughout the Group. They ensure that the gold delivered does not originate from sources associated with money laundering, terrorism financing or abuses of human rights. |
| Sustainability report in accordance with the GRI standard | The GRI guidelines are among the best-known guidelines for sustainability reports worldwide. They serve as a reporting aid with regard to CSR activities. |
| UK Modern Slavery Act | British law obliges companies (with branches/equity interests in the UK) to maintain greater transparency in the supply chain. |
| United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative Statement (UNEP FI) | The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector to mobilise private sector finance for sustainable development. |
| UN PRB / PRI | United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking (apply to BayernLB and DKB); United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (apply to BayernInvest and Real I.S.). |
| UN Global Compact | The UN Global Compact is the world's largest and most important initiative for sustainable and responsible corporate governance, especially with regard to respect for human rights. |
| World Bank standards | Group-wide compliance with the World Bank’s ecological and social standards in all relevant financing, in particular earmarked project financing. The standards include criteria for the observance of human and employee rights, the protection of indigenous peoples, the inclusion and protection of the population (such as local communities) affected by the projects as well as the protection of biotopes and habitats. |
| Codes of conduct of the BVI | Voluntary standards that go beyond the legal obligations of fund managers. They take account of their role as trustees, which places particularly high demands on their conduct towards investors. |
Voluntary commitments and internal standards
We have undertaken the following voluntary commitments and internal standards:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Code of Conduct | Guidelines for our day-to-day activities |
| Corporate Governance Principles | Rules on corporate governance and control |
| Leadership principles | The standards we hold ourselves to as managers |
| BayernLB Group's Reputational Risk Strategy | Strategic framework of reputational risk management with objectives and measures |
| Sustainability Guidelines of the BayernLB Group | Basis for a common understanding of sustainability and cooperation within the Group |
| Sustainability Policy | What sustainability means at the BayernLB Group |
| Sustainability agreement for suppliers and external service providers to BayernLB | Principles and standards BayernLB requires its suppliers and service providers to comply with when procuring products or performing services; these relate to their responsibility towards man and the environment. |
| BayernLB Group’s Environmental Policy | Ten points for implementing sustainability in all the major areas in which the Bank helps protect the environment |
| Policy on cooperative conduct, protection against sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination | Definition of undesirable and unacceptable behaviour and establishment of complaints procedures and possible sanctions |