Sustainability

Rana Kapoor, Founder, and former MD Yes Bank always strived towards creating a sustainable economy, he wanted to support the customers with exceptional banking services and create a large-scale social impact. Under his leadership, Yes Bank adopted futuristic strategies to deliver scalable, developmental, and market-based solutions that reinforce positive impact for people as well as the planet.

As a part of the CSR initiatives under responsible banking, Yes Bank launched some programs to trigger holistic sustainable growth.

  • In FY 2017-18, the Bank set the ‘New Normal’ for India’s banking sector with enhanced disclosures and a focused climate strategy integrated with business. With the motive to educate people on the importance of environment conservation, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Government of India launched a nationwide campaign called ‘Green Good Deeds’ on February 15, 2018. The focus of this campaign was to create awareness and inculcate simple lifestyle habits in an effort to combat climate change and global warming. YES COMMUNITY backed this campaign and engaged in conservational activities like climate awareness workshops, tree plantation drives.
  • Livelihood and Water Security initiative launched in 2014 has provided more than 50 million beneficiaries from Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, access to safe and clean drinking water through CSR intervention. The bank deployed a uniquely innovative, membrane-based water purification technology that required no electricity or chemical dosing for the purification process.
  • Say Yes to sustainable MSMES in India was launched in the FY 2014-15 in line with Yes Bank’s Responsible Banking ethos committed to supporting the MSME sector and giving it the necessary push towards the path of sustainable growth. The initiative promoted Environmental Sustainability through Energy Efficiency and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) within the Indian MSME sector in partnership with on-ground implementation partners. It impacted 18,544 medium, small and micro-enterprise (MSME) units and over 28,400 workers in 14 states aiding the ‘Make in India’
  • Yes Bank upheld the reputation of being an environmentally responsible bank and invested in two initiatives focused on preserving the earth’s natural capital. The first initiative was Natural Capital Awards which recognizes individuals and institutes who have made nature preservation their utmost priority.  Tata Chemicals and ACC won the corporate winners title at the awards ceremony in 2014. The evening was graced by distinguished leaders like Dr. Shashi Tharoor, the then Hon’ble Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri Suresh Prabhu, the then Chairperson, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Ms Yuki Yasui, the then Officer In-charge, UNEP-FI The Second initiative, Natural Capital Conservation inculcated several campaigns that focused on the conservation of biodiversity. Campaigns included- Say YES to Save the Godawan, Say YES to Save Our Pride – The One-Horned Rhino, and Say YES to Red Panda Conservation.

To further support its agenda and fulfill the commitments under responsible banking, the private bank was a signatory and supporter to key protocols and global alliances including 

  • The UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative
  • Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition
  • UN Global Compact
  • CDP
  • Climate Action in Financial Institutions Initiative
  • Natural Capital Finance Alliance.

The Bank’s futuristic approach to prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance in the Indian banking sector has helped it earn recognition on several national and international platforms.

  • Best Bank in India for CSR at Asiamoney Awards 2017
  • Best Innovation in Sustainable Financial Products & Service at Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Award 2017 by European Organization for Sustainable Development (EOSD)
  • Best Sustainability performance and Best sustainability reporting at India Corporate Governance & Sustainable Vision Awards by Indian Chamber of Commerce
  • Financial services (Private) at Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social Responsibility 2017 by the Institute of Directors
  • Innovative Solution to Climate Finance at SKOCH- Blue economy Award 2017 by the SKOCH Group