We want to interact with clients in a responsible and sustainable way. Providing our clients with financial support and assistance is integral to our business as a bank. Yet we also have an impact on society through that interaction and we have a set of measures in place to ensure our services are provided in a responsible manner.

In our business activities and interaction with clients, we are guided by our Code of Conduct, Sustainability Framework and Customer Due Diligence Procedure (Know Your Customer).

Sustainability Framework

The sustainability standards that NIBC expects its clients to meet are set out in our Sustainability Policy. These standards are based on international conventions, codes of conduct and industry practices, such as:

• UN Global Compact
• OECD Guidelines of Multinational Enterprises
• UNEP Finance Initiative: statement by financial institutions on the environment and sustainable development
• ILO Tripartite Declarations of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy
• The Equator Principles and the IFC Performance Standards
• United Nations Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework and the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The Sustainability Policy also specifies sectors where our involvement is prohibited or restricted, such as controversial weapons.

Sector-specific policies are in place for specific sectors (see Downloads on the right). These policies outline the risks we identify in each sector, the market practices that apply to the sector and our approach to those specific sectors.

For all project financing transactions NIBC applies the Equator Principles. Please find here NIBC's Equator Principles report for 2012 . 

The Sustainability Risk Management Policy describes the process and tools used to evaluate clients as well as who is responsible for these processes. A sustainability toolkit is in place to assess environmental, social and governance issues related to clients and transactions.

We expect our clients to meet the appropriate industry environmental and social market standards and market practices. Where clients do not meet these market standards and market practices, NIBC will work with them to improve provided that they demonstrate commitment and progress over time.

NIBC's Sustainability Policy Framework is drafted by the CSR Team in cooperation with the business teams and stakeholders and is approved by all relevant committees including the Managing Board and Supervisory Board.

Customer Due Diligence

In order to safeguard the integrity and reputation of NIBC and that of the financial markets and banking system as a whole, due diligence checks are required prior to engaging in business with a client. NIBC will not do business with people or companies involved in illegal, criminal or socially unacceptable activities of any kind. If a potential client is involved in such activities, we refuse to do business with them. If we already have a business relationship with them, the relationship will be terminated.