For our clients
We perceive the impending transformation of the economy both as a challenge and as an opportunity. To assist our clients along this process, we are continuously expanding our range of advisory services and products to include sustainable solutions – both in the lending business and in the asset management field.
Sustainability Compass
Our approach
For our clients
At OLB
Social responsibility
ESG publications
Sustainable finance disclosures
The transformation towards a sustainable economy is a mission for the whole of society, a challenge to which we want to make an active contribution. Our business practices promote the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a number of ways, most notably the following:
SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Our contribution:
We help our clients with the financing of energy-saving construction and renovation solutions. In addition, we support companies in their renewable energy projects, from small ventures to complex funding arrangements for wind farms and solar parks of various sizes.
In conjunction with public funding institutions, we offer our corporate clients tailor-made solutions to boost efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and, ultimately, maintain their competitiveness. Further information
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Our contribution:
Sustainability plays an important role in our investment and credit consultancy services. Since both lending and investment decisions may entail adverse impacts on sustainability, the bank has established investment and lending policies to mitigate such impacts. Our employees thus screen all loan applications for potential risks with regard to environmental, ethical and social impacts.
Investment consultancy with a vision
Clients who wish to invest in securities may request the inclusion of their sustainability criteria in our investment proposals.
Find out more in the “Sustainability in our investment consultancy services” brochure.
Inclusion of sustainability risks in investment decisions and disclosure of adverse effects
Prudent lending
As a universal bank with extensive expertise in the lending business, we are keenly aware of the entrepreneurial, social and societal aspects inherent in loan transactions. Among other factors, our credit specialists also screen loan approvals for potential risks in terms of environmental, ethical and social impacts. Where necessary, the bank involves its compliance, legal and risk management departments and uses questionnaires for a structured assessment of specific industry and sustainability criteria. Depending on the industry under consideration, areas that may require further scrutiny include the regional and social impacts of a project, impacts on biodiversity and species protection, compliance risks and climate change mitigation.
We assess all business and financing requests for compliance with the applicable laws and regulations and only implement them if all requirements are met. In this context, we may subject certain industries to closer scrutiny or exclude them in their entirety. In deviation from EU regulations, Germany, for instance, does not regard nuclear power as a green transitional technology. Among the reasons for this assessment are the unresolved final deposition issue and the unquantifiable health associated with nuclear energy. Consequently, we do not finance projects involving the construction of new nuclear power plants or capacity expansions at existing nuclear power plants.
Moreover, the policies and procedures we use to identify, manage and mitigate credit risk also take the impact of ESG factors on the borrowers’ financial position into account. In the private banking, freelancer and business segments, our property valuations reflect ESG risks in connection with the provision of real estate collateral. In the commercial lending business, ESG risks are identified, analyzed and assessed in a process comprising up to three stages:
Our scoring model employs the following dimensions and criteria to assess ESG risks:
| Dimension | Criterion |
| Environment | Greenhouse gas emissions |
| Water consumption | |
| Taxes imposed on polluting activities | |
| Physical and transitory risks | |
| Social | Employees’ social security |
| Adequate remuneration, fair workplace conditions | |
| Labor law standards, protection against discrimination | |
| Social risks arising from government policies and changes in the market environment | |
| Governance | Legally compliant corporate governance, business ethics |
| Governance risks arising from government policies and changes in the market environment |
Responsible approach to clients facing repayment problems
To secure long-term business relationships, we employ numerous safeguards to pre-empt any overspending by borrowers. Prior to granting a loan, for instance, we check the borrower’s material debt service quality (including a possible stress scenario). In the case of product deals, we outline the options for integrating a complaints management system, e.g. in the context of a withdrawal right system.
When it comes to customizing financing arrangements, we offer a variety of hedging instruments. In the mortgage financing segment and the installment loan financing segment, for instance, we provide detailed information on the options and requirements relating to financial protection against the risks of unemployment, occupational disability and other risks.
In line with the EU Mortgage Credit Directive, we offer a range of advisory services for clients associated with relevant warning indicators. In addition, we have credit monitoring systems in place that help us identify and address borrowers who are expected to experience financial difficulties. If such financial problems actually arise, we will work with the borrower to find a solution. We do not sell non-performing consumer receivables by transferring the corresponding collateral.
Credible marketing
Our marketing activities are guided by the principles of honesty, integrity and transparency and promote long-term cooperative relationships with our clients. We use uniform, accessible language to communicate the bank’s values and beliefs to our clients.
To this end, all activities are managed on a centralized basis. For nationwide advertising campaigns, we are increasingly relying on digital forms of advertising (e.g. digital signage boards) to reduce the need for printed posters. Promotional mailshots are routinely posted as digital advertisements in the Client Inbox of our online banking system. We assess each client communication to determine whether digital media can replace the production of print products. Furthermore, we are rapidly reducing the production and distribution of small gifts (e.g. on World Savings Day). Where feasible, we choose regional products with environmentally friendly packaging. When it comes to images, we make sure to provide inclusive representations that do not discriminate against any particular group of people.
The protection of personal data is a key European fundamental right and is afforded special protection under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. We unconditionally observe the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the German Federal Data Protection Act and other regulations relating to data privacy and implement them in full. We do not approach clients with promotional communications until we have conducted a precise analysis of their needs. For this reason, we specifically avoid mass mailings.