ABN AMRO Bank N : again ranked among world’s most sustainable banks

This year, ABN AMRO has once again been ranked among the world's most sustainable banks in the annual RobecoSAM assessment, achieving 79 out of 100 points. RobecoSAM's assessment will be used as the basis for the worldwide Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) to be published in early 2020.

Kees van Dijkhuizen, CEO of ABN AMRO: 'I am extremely proud that our efforts and achievements in terms of sustainability have once again been recognised. We've put sustainability at the heart of our strategy. In doing so, we take responsibility for contributing to a better world, by banking for better, for now and for generations to come.'

Every year, RobecoSAM researches more than 3,500 international companies and assesses them based on their economic, social and environmental policies. ABN AMRO's 79/100 score puts it in the top 10% of most sustainable banks worldwide. The difference between ABN AMRO and the industry leader is 7 points. In 2018, ABN AMRO scored 83 points. In 2019, ABN AMRO's interest rate derivatives were included in its score for the first time.

The bank was particularly credited with points for its efforts in fighting crime, its climate strategy and its human rights policies. Areas of improvement suggested by RobecoSAM mainly concerned the bank's transparency regarding its ambitions and its performance in recent and future years. RobecoSAM would also like to see ABN AMRO give more clarity on topics like lobbying and political activities.

Investors and other stakeholders use ABN AMRO's ranking in the DJSI as a way to gain insight into the bank's sustainability efforts. The bank's index ranking is also an important gauge for ABN AMRO itself. In January, all relative scores will be published and ABN AMRO will know where it stands in the Sustainability Index.