At Santander, we are convinced that banking plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing that everyone has the opportunity to grow. This is particularly relevant given the global events of recent years. With this in mind, the bank believes that supporting community progress and driving social responsibility are not merely aspirational aspects, but rather they represent tangible commitments that enable us to enhance the sustainable development of people and companies, in addition to supporting the transition to a greener economy, all of which fall under the auspices of our Responsible Banking agenda.
This is why we fast-tracked our sustainability efforts during 2022, in order to create greater value for our shareholders, customers, employees and the communities in which we operate. Our culture, alongside the Responsible Banking strategy that underpins everything we do, has helped position us as a leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria in Mexico.
At Santander, we have set ourselves public, clear and measurable goals regarding the contributions we are making to ensure that our present and our future are more sustainable. As such, we focus on promoting financial products and services that help to combat climate change; drive inclusive and sustainable growth through financial empowerment; support education, companies and job creation in our country; and continue making the bank a respectful, safe, diverse and inclusive environment for all our employees.
Since 2019, we have financially empowered more than 1.7 million people, and we have benefitted more than 687,000 more through financial education, offering them the tools and knowledge they need to help them make financial decisions to better manage their resources and ensure the health of their finances.
We also support the communities in which we operate through our social investment programs and in conjunction with a number of key social players. In 2022 alone, we benefited more than 194,000 people through community investments totaling MXN $51.8 million. Thanks to these, and other measures, in 2022 we were recognized as the Most Socially Responsible Bank in Mexico by International Finance Magazine, in addition to, for the 18th consecutive year, receiving the Socially Responsible Company (ESR) award.
In 2022, the Board of Directors helped promote initiatives that drive the creation of diverse and inclusive workspaces for all our employees. Through these actions, within our teams we help to promote gender equality, generational talent, the incorporation of people with disabilities, and the inclusion of members of our Bank who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. We are convinced that diversity and inclusion at all levels within our organization not only helps to attract and retain the very best talent, but it also brings with it enormous benefits in terms of driving innovation and performance, increasing the trust people and companies place in our business, and meeting the expectations of our stakeholders.
In recognition of these actions, in 2022 Santander was presented with the MEF - IMEF Gender Equality Award by Women in Finance – Mexican Institute of Finance Executives, in addition to being included in the Top 10 Big Companies to Work and the Super Companies for Women rankings published by Grupo Expansión.
As part of our Responsible Banking strategy - and in keeping with our commitment to mobilize €120 billion by 2025 to help combat climate change - during 2022 we continued designing and offering products based on ESG criteria, and we participated in 23 labeled bond transactions, providing our customers with the support they need to promote the sustainability of their businesses and ensure compliance with best practices in this area.
At Santander, we continue adopting practices and technologies that allow us to reduce our environmental footprint by rolling out energy-efficiency plans, promoting the use of renewable energies, and offsetting our own emissions. As a result, Santander Mexico’s own operations have been carbon neutral since 2020, while our buildings and offices have been free from single-use plastics since 2021.
Without a doubt, 2022 was a year of major challenges, but we were able to convert these into opportunities that benefited our stakeholders thanks to our business strategy, our Responsible Banking culture, and our solid corporate governance. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our shareholders, customers, employees and the communities in which we operate for their support and the trust they have placed in us. You may rest assured that all of us at Santander are committed to working responsibly to make our country, and the world as a whole, a better place to live.
Laura Diez Barroso Azcárraga
Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Santander Mexico