Social responsibility
Taking on social responsibility above and beyond the banking business is a matter of great importance to us. Primarily, this responsibility is handled by the OLB Foundation, which was established on the Bank’s 125th anniversary.
Sustainability Compass
Our approach
For our clients
At OLB
Social responsibility
ESG publications
Sustainable finance disclosures
We are involved in numerous cultural, educational and environmental projects mostly designed for people living in the northwest of Germany, which we develop and sponsor in collaboration with various project partners.
In addition, we support social causes, among them:
- Hospice work at the “Day of Children’s Hospice Work (TADEA)” conference of the Oldenburg Hospice Service Foundation.
- Organizational work of the Ganderkesee-Hude hospice association
- Inclusion in the Martinsclub Bremen e.V. soccer tournament and in the all-day holiday childcare scheme provided by the German Red Cross district association North
- Integration in welcome classes provided by Ukraine-Hilfe Osnabrück e.V.
- Integration guides in the Cloppenburg district
We also focus on many other projects in the fields of youth and sports activities as well as monument and local heritage preservation. For instance, the Foundation was involved in the “Energy Vision 2050” school project covering the entire Weser-Ems region, in the European Parliament simulation game in Oldenburg, in a multicord installation at the Ankum elementary school and in the renovation of the church steeple of the protestant reformed parish of Uttum.
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 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Our contribution:
Comprehensive workplace health management is an important matter for us. We also support various health projects, such as “Klasse 2000” in schools and clubs, which focus specifically on the topics of nutrition, exercise and the prevention of violence and addiction.
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Our contribution:
Our OLB Science Award has been set up to support young scientists committed to helping the Northwest move forward. With a total endowment of EUR 22,000, our prize is the biggest science award in northwest Germany. We are also keen to promote cooperation and dialogue between science and industry. Through their research and development work, universities and colleges make a significant contribution to sustaining and expanding the regional economy. We also support these efforts with selected endowed professorships.
Moreover, we offer funding to universities and colleges in the Northwest via our Deutschlandstipendium scholarship program, and provide applicant training courses at schools.
The OLB Foundation also funds a number of projects set up by other educational programs and initiatives.
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Our contribution:
It goes without saying that we respect and uphold human rights and firmly reject forced labor, child labor and exploitation. We do not tolerate any violation of human rights by employees, clients, business partners or service providers.
Based on the national and international guidelines, sanctions, embargoes and similar restrictions to which we are subject in our capacity as a bank, we screen all new contractual partners prior to signing any contracts and have established our own internal guidelines for this purpose.
SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Our contribution:
Alongside the significant share of private construction financing in our loan portfolio, we also act as a premium partner in public-sector funding for sustainable construction projects.
On top of this, the OLB Foundation awards the OLB Prize for Architecture and Civil Engineering to promote planning and construction quality in the northwestern part of Lower Saxony and create awareness of good building practices. Our 2022 competition attracted applications from architects in the Northwest whose projects are of significant architectural merit. Aside from conceptual and functional priorities, relevant selection criteria include ecological quality as well as design and choice of materials.
