BFC takes a step in sustainable development. Reunion bank advisers soon fifty -year -old, subsidiary of Société Générale and Mauritius Commercial Bank, relays the message of social and environmental responsibility (RSE) with their business customers to help them make the ecological shift.
Faced with new regulatory requirements on sustainability reporting, the BFC is organizing itself to make its contribution to the ecological transition. It completes its position as a traditional bank by supporting its corporate clients in their transition to decarbonization.. It is a real strategy of greening its customer portfolio that the bank is undertaking in line with the commitments of the Société Générale Group.. It regionalizes this vision for local economic players, taking into account the specificities of the overseas market.. Chanaz Banian has been in charge of implementing the CSR commercial strategy for a year. “It’s our responsibility, as a banking establishment, to best prepare our customers for the ecological transition. This concerns us all and confronts companies with regulatory deadlines, particularly decarbonization, for which they must prepare today. Large local companies subject to sustainability reporting know what they need to do, but others are not ready at all. Our duty as a partner is to guide them in the face of these deadlines which will have significant consequences on their activity.. This is what I call support. »
A path of differentiation
The BFC’s green strategy is deployed around three axes : compliance with regulations related to CSR for its own account and by its customers ; raising awareness of the issues of climate change and ecological transition ; solutions for implementing green projects through financing, but also through advice and support. The BFC aims to be proactive in addressing the subject of environmental transition with businesses. In this, she wishes to take on the role of ambassador for CSR issues. A differentiation that renews its image as a bank serving the region and businesses. The BFC began this vast awareness campaign with the training of its staff. Indeed, 70% of front office and back office employees have already been trained in the Climate Fresco, fun and collaborative workshop. It is launching its customer support program with the most impactful companies on an environmental and societal level. “We are moving forward step by step, it’s a new way of working”, says Chanaz Banian.
Responsible financing
“Our goal is to help “green” our clients’ projects”, summarizes Chanaz Banian. An example is given through the new version of the i-Run by BFC product, as part of the Réunion Region’s FAIRE system. This offer offers a bonus rate on projects with a positive impact. Wider, the strategy for large companies integrates environmental criteria, social and governance (ESG). These criteria are analyzed during interviews conducted by business managers with clients.. The aim is to assess the level of maturity of companies and projects to offer appropriate support, from raising awareness to financing operations. More advantageous, the “green” financial offer is based on interest rate subsidies to encourage companies to accelerate in this direction. “It is also clear that by taking into account ESG criteria, we are rationalizing our customer portfolio with the most committed companies”, don't hide Chanaz Banian.
Aware and trained staff
The environmental and social dimension is changing banking advice. If the latter by nature never ceases to adapt to the economic and regulatory environment, taking CSR into account gives rise to a form of specialization. It is also about directing towards the right partners, starting with the essential pillars of technical and financial support for companies in the ecological transition that are the Public Investment Bank (BPI) and Ademe. Faced with these major environmental challenges, the BFC has structured a team of experts responsible for embodying and disseminating the CSR discourse to employees and also customers.
An internal, daily efforts
The BFC has been committed to a proactive CSR policy since 2019 and in response to the tertiary decree which plans to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by 40% by 2030.. This reduction is already well underway with photovoltaic panels allowing 20% energy savings in one of the two buildings of the bank's headquarters in Saint-Denis and the implementation of centralized management of lighting and air conditioning in the buildings.. The consumption of paper in daily activity is also in sharp decline. With the governance and human resources component, the CSR action of the BFC is also characterized by a strong sponsorship action with associations working in the professional integration of young people and people in difficulty, as well as associations for the protection of the environment and biodiversity, particularly the marine environment in 2025 when France celebrates the Year of the Sea.
