“Our regional roots, our close proximity to our members and customers, and our cooperative values lend our endeavors to create a more sustainable future greater credibility,” says BVR President Marija Kolak, who sees the signing of the stakeholder endorsement as a further contribution to this culture. 

The BVR is committed to establishing the principles across its network and helping its members to implement them. Together with the companies that make up the Cooperative Financial Network, which include DZ BANK, Union Investment, and R+V Versicherung, BVR has developed a comprehensive set of support services for its members. These practical tools will enable the German cooperative banks to independently put in place a system of sustainability management within their own organizations. Aspects of sustainability are relevant not only to the relationships that each bank maintains with its customers but also to the banks’ own business operations. The Cooperative Financial Network’s sustainability guidelines are a key source of guidance for all BVR members. They were developed in 2020 and include a commitment to the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals and the targets set by the Paris climate agreement.