14 September 2012
ANZ ranked lead bank globally in Dow Jones Sustainability Index
ANZ today welcomed the announcement that it has been ranked the most sustainable bank globally in the 2012 Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth time in six years.
ANZ Chief Executive Officer Mike Smith said: “We’re pleased the efforts of our 48,000 people to improve our contribution
to sustainability have been recognised by the world’s leading organisation for measuring sustainability performance.
“Across the bank we have worked hard to improve our performance through initiatives such as our target to increase the
finance we provide to the renewables sector or through the work we’ve done to improve financial literacy in underserved
communities in the Pacific.
“We recognise there is still plenty to be done but we’re making good progress and we’re pleased to be recognised for our
achievements to date,” Mr Smith said.
The report said: “ANZ’s sustainable business practices, exceptional risk and crisis management procedures and its strong
focus on sustainable investment products as key factors for its leading position in the banking supersector.”
Other key points highlighted in the report include:
• The introduction of a new financial inclusion strategy, making it one of the leaders of its field in Australia,
New Zealand and Asia Pacific;
• ANZ’s clear strategy to reduce its long-term environmental footprint as well as transparently communicating its
targets and progress; and
• Its commitment to diversity, including its ambitious and publicly disclosed targets for women in management
positions and equal remuneration.
DJSI is the most widely accepted global assessment of how companies approach their social, economic and environmental
responsibilities.
It assesses business management practices such as corporate governance, risk management, customer relations, brand
management, human resources, corporate community investment, climate change mitigation and environmental performance.
To further ANZ’s sustainability objectives in New Zealand, ANZ this month launched a pilot MoneyMinded financial
education programme in South Auckland, developed especially for learners with low literacy levels.
The launch coincided with MoneyWeek, the Commission for Financial Literacy & Retirement Income’s nationwide financial education awareness campaign, and also celebrated the partnership between ANZ
and Solomon Group, which will be delivering the programme.
MoneyMinded is a financial education programme that helps teach basic budgeting, saving and money management skills.
Further information on ANZ’s corporate responsibility programmes can be found at www.anz.com
ENDS