On 6 November, Vojvođanska banka presented a report that measured the overall contribution to a sustainable business for 2016 in a transparent and comparable way. The Bank thus became one of only 11 companies in Serbia that apply this practice.
This Bank is the first financial institution in our country that has formed a Corporate Social Responsibility Department and one of the few in Serbia that has included this important area in its long-term business strategy.
According to Marinos Vathis, Chairman of the Executive Board, by adopting and accepting this direction Vojvođanska banka expressed the desire that activities to improve living conditions and the community in which it operates do not take a back seat to strive for economic progress.
“As a responsible financial institution, we have decided to be among the leaders in social responsibility, aware of the fact that we can and must influence the achievement of global goals defined by the United Nations”, said Vathis. “This report presents our efforts and the results we have achieved in a comprehensive and realistic manner. It allows us to analyse what has been done in a very transparent way. At the same time, it tells us how to set new challenges in the coming years.”
“The GRI reporting methodology used to produce the report has shown that the biggest strength of our company is precisely our 1,500 employees”, said Zorica Džida, director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department of Vojvođanska banka. “They have taken part in many volunteer actions, and the Bank, through the project ‘Be yourself’, has continued to support young people without parental care in search of their first employment. As of this year, we are also supporting UNICEF programmes in Serbia for a happier childhood for every child”. She also thanked Neven Marinović, Director of Smart Kolektiv, who has provided invaluable assistance and support to the Bank in developing this complex document.
“For UNICEF, the aim of our partnership and cooperation with financial institutions and banks is to ensure that children’s rights are at the heart of these companies’ sustainability programmes and their inclusion in business agendas. I am pleased that the report presented today reflects the commitment of Vojvođanska banka to sustainable business and represents a contribution to a sustainable future”, said Michel Saint-Lot, UNICEF Representative in Serbia.