Environmental, Social, and Governance

SBC’s Environmental, Social and Governance Commitments:

  • Financial inclusion to under-banked with built- in lending mechanisms to ensure customer affordability.
  • Credit life insurance embedded in loan products to customers.
  • Group ESG policy based on international best practise adopted in July 2025.
  • BB- Social Rating for Lesotho operations in 2020.
  • Malkerns Square meets IFC Edge Level 1 standard, with at least 20% savings in energy, water, and materials compared to a local baseline.
  • Long-term affiliations with leading development finance institutions (DFIs) and impact investors.
  • Significant contribution to African capital market development.
  • SBC’s operations are aligned to 8 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Sustainable Development Goals:

  • NO POVERTY: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

  • ZERO HUNGER: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

  • GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

  • QUALITY EDUCATION: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

  • GENDER EQUALITY: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

  • CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

  • AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

  • DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

  • INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

  • REDUCED INEQUALITIES: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

  • SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

  • RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

  • CLIMATE ACTION: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

  • LIFE BELOW WATER: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

  • LIFE ON LAND: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

  • PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

  • PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.